2022 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both creased and symmetrical, leaning towards a conservative aesthetic. This approach, while not eliciting strong emotional responses, aged well and appealed to fans of simplicity and minimalism. For 2022, the Tiguan received new front styling to align with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, featuring a restyled grille with the new VW logo and an available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels were also part of the update. The SUV was available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970 MSRP, featured a sportier look, especially in Atlantic Blue Metallic with 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer-looking cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color options. The interior had tastefully rendered metallic accents, giving it an upscale appearance, though the hard plastic on the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button engine starting, and heated front seats, with remote engine starting available from the SE trim. New interior colors and a panoramic glass sunroof were also options. Overall, the 2022 Tiguan retained its great looks while adding extra pizzazz, keeping it fresh until a full redesign.

The 2022 Ford Expedition underwent significant changes, including exterior styling revisions and updated infotainment tech. The front featured a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear received revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels were introduced across the model lineup. The Expedition was available in XL STX, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from just over $55,000 to just under $84,000, including the destination charge. A new Timberline trim catered to off-road enthusiasts, adding 4WD, all-terrain tires, suspension modifications, more ground clearance, a skid plate, and off-roading tech for around $72,500.

The Stealth Edition packages, available only with Limited trim, added black 22-inch wheels, large “EXPEDITION” lettering on the hood, and a mix of blacked-out and body-color exterior trim. The Stealth Performance Package included red-painted brake calipers. The Stone Blue Metallic test vehicle, priced at $80,155 MSRP, featured 4WD, extra-cost paint, the Stealth Package, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and the larger Sync 4A infotainment touchscreen. Despite the high cost, the Expedition Limited Stealth Edition compensated with leather seats, soft padding, and impressive tech, though it retained some F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim and switchgear.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system that could send up to half the power to the rear wheels when needed. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models. However, with just 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths.

The Tiguan’s MacPherson struts in front and multi-link independent rear suspension, along with variable assist steering, provided a nimble and responsive driving experience. However, the engine’s torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and our test drive in Malibu, California, averaged 24.7 mpg. While the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, it lacked outright fun when pushed, with tires and suspension not being ideal partners for spirited driving.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm (400 hp and 480 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel). The engine drove the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with an optional 4WD system. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, and the Expedition could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment.

The twin-turbo V6’s power was addictive, and Ford tuned the engine and exhaust to deliver a pleasing sound. However, the harder you pushed the accelerator, the more fuel it consumed, with our test vehicle averaging 16.2 mpg, nearly 2 mpg less than the EPA rating. The Expedition’s sport-tuned suspension in the Stealth Edition Package contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, especially with the 22-inch wheels and 285/45 tires. The adaptive damping suspension available in higher trims would have helped reduce impact harshness and bounciness.

Despite its size, the Expedition was surprisingly easy to park, thanks to excellent outward visibility, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. On the highway, the Expedition excelled, providing a quiet and effortless ride, making it ideal for long road trips. However, some tire slap on certain pavements was noticeable.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to compare to smaller midsize SUVs. The Tiguan offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line test vehicle featured comfortable leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and decent storage.

One significant change for 2022 was the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard, which, while sophisticated, were harder to use. Cargo space was among the best in the class, with FWD models offering 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The 4Motion model provided 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered unmatched comfort levels, with easy access thanks to available power running boards. The interior provided plenty of room for passengers, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wide console with ample storage. Second-row captain’s chairs were comfortable, with climate controls and overhead air vents, though toe room was a bit tight.

Loading the third-row seat was easy, with outstanding leg support and a power recline function, though headroom could be tight for taller passengers. Cargo room behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, with the Expedition Max offering 34.3 cubic feet. Folding the third row provided 57.5 cubic feet (73.3 in the Max), and with both rear rows folded, the Expedition offered 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 in the Max).

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base Tiguan S, included an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

However, the natural voice recognition feature required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription, which was not active in the test vehicle. Car-Net offered a Remote Access plan for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan included automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, while the Hotspot plan provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with the standard Sync 4 featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and physical controls for the stereo and climate system. Sync 4A, optional, replaced these with a 15.5-inch touchscreen and a single physical dial for stereo volume. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice recognition, and a connected navigation system with a 90-day trial.

Sync 4 added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. Sync 4A offered an upgraded voice-recognition system and an adaptive dashcard user interface. However, the system had quirks, such as difficulty restarting Apple CarPlay and accidental activation of the defroster function. The Expedition also offered an upgraded dual-touchscreen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 for easier trailer reversing.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan included standard Front Assist (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection) and Side Assist (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert). The Tiguan’s IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems added Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely bring the SUV to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s improvements could enhance this rating.

The 2022 Ford Expedition grouped its driving-assistance systems into three Ford Co-Pilot360 collections. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, starting with Limited trim, added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist.

The King Ranch and Platinum trims included Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, with a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0 for semi-autonomous parking. The Expedition also introduced Road Edge Detection and offered BlueCruise hands-free driving technology for approved highways. The adaptive cruise control performed smoothly, but the lane-centering assist had issues with sensing hands on the wheel and maintaining lane position in heavier traffic.