2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that leaned towards conservatism, featuring a creased, folded, and symmetrical look. 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 models, a restyled grille with the new VW logo, and standard LED headlights. The SUV also featured redesigned aluminum wheels and new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate.

Volkswagen simplified the Tiguan lineup to S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970, came with standard 4Motion AWD and an accessory cargo cover. The R-Line models had a sportier look, with the SE R-Line Black offering a trendy blacked-out appearance. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer-looking cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting. However, the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. The Tucson featured Hyundai’s new parametric grille, hiding standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra’s design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear had toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, giving the Tucson a distinctive look.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails, body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Higher trims offered heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, and the option of a sunroof. Inside, the Tucson was well-appointed with stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, horizontal lines across the dashboard, and an uncluttered aesthetic, providing a sense of spaciousness.

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 AWD system could send up to half of the power to the rear wheels but decoupled the rear axle when not needed to save fuel. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models.

The Tiguan’s performance was adequate, though the engine’s torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, causing momentary turbo lag. The SUV’s ride and handling were nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, but it lacked excitement when pushed for outright fun. The EPA estimated the R-Line with 4Motion would achieve 24 mpg in combined driving, and real-world testing yielded a 24.7 mpg average. The Tiguan’s suspension and steering provided a comfortable ride, but it wasn’t particularly engaging for spirited driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain produced 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful and enjoyable to drive. The hybrid’s performance was impressive, even during a 7,000-foot elevation change test.

The Tucson Hybrid outperformed competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. AWD was standard on the hybrid and optional on ICE models, providing excellent performance on loose gravel roads. The ICE-powered Tucson achieved an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined with FWD and 26 mpg combined with AWD. The hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with the most efficient version achieving 38 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV promised even more power and efficiency, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover SUV, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models, while 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line test vehicle 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, a USB charging port, and ample storage.

Cargo space was generous, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down in 4Motion models. FWD models with the third-row seat had 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with it folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Tiguan’s touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard were harder to use than traditional buttons, potentially causing driver distraction.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a budget-friendly yet well-appointed interior, comparable to top competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. Standard features included a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated and ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was leather-wrapped in higher trims and heated on the Limited trim.

The new Tucson platform provided more passenger and cargo space, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V. The rear seats offered two inches more legroom than the RAV4, and the cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor in ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital instrumentation, with most versions featuring an 8-inch display and the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, introduced last year, was available in all but the base Tiguan S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The MIB3 system included an 8-inch touchscreen, 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.

Natural voice recognition was a touted feature of MIB3, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. The Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan offered automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, while the Hotspot plan provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Tiguan also featured an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson boasted a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A fully digital instrument cluster was available on higher trims.

A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was optional, but it required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly. The Tucson’s tech features were comprehensive and competitive within its segment.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with 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 IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems included Travel Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which slowed the SUV and brought it 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 features could improve that score.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai’s comprehensive warranty included a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.