2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that leaned towards conservatism, featuring a creased, folded, and symmetrical look. The refreshed front styling aligned it with Volkswagen’s larger models, and the new grille, LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its appeal. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with blacked-out elements and a striking Atlantic Blue Metallic paint option. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line offered a richer cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin hinted at its mass-market status.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches and adding revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and new character lines. The sporty N Line and Kona N trims introduced unique styling elements, including body-color cladding and new wheel designs. Inside, the Kona featured a more horizontal layout with ambient lighting and a rear USB port. The N Line trim added exclusive black seats with red stitching and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N took sportiness to another level with wide fenders, a front lip spoiler, and N sport bucket seats.

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 available. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in momentary turbo lag, but once engaged, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive. Fuel economy for the R-Line with 4Motion was rated at 24 mpg combined, with our test drive averaging 24.7 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line and Limited trims upgraded to a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The new Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N also featured exclusive driving modes and performance enhancements. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with AWD, provided ample power and a sporty driving experience, with minor turbo lag and clunkiness in lower gears. The Kona's handling was composed and surefooted, with a low center of gravity contributing to its stability.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line trim featured comfortable leather front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. Cargo space was generous, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down in 4Motion models.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while small, provided ample front-seat comfort with good headroom and legroom. The N Line trim's front seats offered excellent support during spirited driving. Rear-seat occupants, however, faced limited headroom and legroom, with small door openings complicating entry and exit. Cargo space was tight, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2022 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 S trim, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, natural voice recognition required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. The Tiguan also offered a Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for 2022, starting with an 8-inch display in the base SE trim. The SEL trim and above included SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. The Limited and Kona N featured a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and an optional Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base 8-inch screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona also offered a Digital Key, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist. The IQ Drive collection included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely bring the vehicle 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 new LED headlights and driver aids could improve that score.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The NHTSA awarded the Kona five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. The Kona's forward collision-avoidance system received "Superior" and "Advanced" ratings for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian protection, respectively.