2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its rivals for its refined and conservative design. Unlike many of its competitors, the Tiguan’s creased and symmetrical styling embraced simplicity and minimalism, which promised to age gracefully. The refreshed front styling for 2022 aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen's larger Atlas models, complete with a restyled grille boasting the new VW logo and an available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels further modernized the exterior. Volkswagen offered the Tiguan in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices ranged from $25,995 to $36,995, plus a destination charge of $1,195. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, with standard 4Motion AWD, was priced at $37,970. The R-Line models featured sportier aesthetics, with the SE R-Line Black boasting a trendy blacked-out appearance. Atlantic Blue Metallic paint added visual appeal, accentuated by 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line exuded an upscale feel with perforated and piped leather upholstery, advanced technology, touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. Metallic accents enhanced the interior’s elegance, but the hard plastics used on the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market positioning. Keyless entry, push-button starting, heated front seats, remote engine starting (from SE trim), and unique interior colors like Cinnamon and Noisette Brown were standard. The panoramic sunroof added to the luxury vibe. Overall, the Tiguan retained its appealing looks with added flair, promising freshness until its next redesign. For the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, its design drew heavily from traditional Jeep aesthetics and the 1963 Wagoneer. The forward-leaning grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and tapered rear roof pillars gave it a familiar yet modern look. Jeep flipped the script by initially launching the three-row Grand Cherokee L, followed by the sportier two-row version. Available in trims like Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, prices ranged from $37,390 to $63,365, plus a $1,795 destination charge. The Grand Cherokee’s design was robust, featuring a black roof on select trims and a few initial paint color options, with more promised. Inside, the Grand Cherokee mirrored the 2021 Grand Cherokee L. The base Laredo, with its cloth seats, still exuded quality and comfort. At the luxury end, the Summit Reserve trim dazzled with quilted leather, heated and ventilated front seats with massage, a McIntosh audio system, and a panoramic sunroof, though high-gloss black controls could reflect sunlight annoyingly. Overall, the Grand Cherokee was easy to customize for style, comfort, and purpose, despite the initially limited exterior color options.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan continued with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, power was sent to the front wheels, with VW’s 4Motion AWD distributing up to 50% of power to the rear wheels as needed. AWD disengaged when not needed, aiding fuel efficiency. Drivers had access to Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad and Snow settings in AWD variants. Despite Hill Descent Control and Offroad modes, the Tiguan’s 7.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road prowess. MacPherson struts and a multi-link independent rear suspension offered a balanced ride. The brakes comprised 13.4-inch vented front discs and 11.8-inch solid rear discs, with variable assist steering. Turbo lag was a minor concern, with a slight delay in power delivery from a stop. Despite this, the Tiguan offered a nimble and responsive driving experience, with an average of 24.7 mpg during a test drive. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered more robust powertrain options with RWD and 4WD variants, featuring a V6 or a V8 engine. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 293 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, allowing a 6,200-pound towing capacity. The available 5.7-liter V8, exclusive to higher trims with 4WD, delivered 357 horsepower at 5,150 rpm and 390 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. Three 4WD systems provided varied off-road capabilities. Quadra-Trac I, available with Laredo, Altitude, and Limited trims, automatically distributed power to the front wheels when necessary. Quadra-Trac II, with Overland trim, featured 4-Hi and 4-Lo settings for tougher terrain. Quadra-Drive II, standard in Trailhawk and Summit Reserve trims, could direct up to 100% of power to a single rear wheel. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, although the dial-style shifter had a learning curve. Fuel economy estimates ranged from 17 mpg with the V8 and 4WD to 21 mpg with the V6. The Trailhawk, with its all-terrain tires, achieved impressive off-road performance, while the V6 struck a balance between efficiency and power. The air suspension, more complex and costly to repair, improved ride comfort but dulled the Grand Cherokee’s traditional driving character.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan offered remarkable interior space, comparable to midsize SUVs like the Chevrolet Blazer and Kia Sorento. FWD models featured a standard third-row seat, while AWD variants did not. The SEL R-Line’s front seats provided exceptional comfort with leather upholstery, power adjustments, and heating and ventilation. The panoramic sunroof flooded the cabin with light, and visibility was excellent. The spacious second row accommodated adults comfortably, including those with reverse-facing child seats. However, the switch to touch controls on the dashboard proved less user-friendly, causing potential distractions. Cargo space varied; FWD models offered 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with both rows down. AWD models were even more versatile, providing 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with seats folded down, rivalling midsize SUVs. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee catered to comfort from the driver’s seat to the rear. Higher trims included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and even massagers. The Grand Cherokee also improved visibility through better design and camera technology, particularly useful during off-roading. A panoramic sunroof added an expansive feel to the cabin. However, rear-seat leg space was tight, especially for taller passengers, with the hard front seatback trim adding discomfort. The three-row Grand Cherokee L provided additional legroom and cargo space, 37.7 cubic feet behind the back seat in the two-row model, and 70.8 cubic feet with seats folded down. This compared to the Grand Cherokee L’s 46.9 cubic feet behind the third row and 84.6 cubic feet in total cargo space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan sported a Digital Cockpit as standard, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a sophisticated 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro on the SEL R-Line. The MIB3 infotainment system, standard on all but the base Tiguan S, featured an 8-inch touchscreen with under-glass mounting, Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. However, the touted natural voice recognition required a Plus Speech upgrade and active Car-Net Hotspot subscription, limiting its immediate usability. Remote Access through Car-Net allowed engine starting, door locking, location tracking, and setting Family Guardian alerts, all complimentary for five years. The Tiguan also offered Park Assist, standard on SEL R-Line trim, autonomously steering the SUV into parking spaces. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was loaded with technology featuring Uconnect 5, which offered enhanced responsiveness through over-the-air updates. An 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim, alongside a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and optional 10.25-inch front passenger interactive display, provided a tech-rich experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, along with voice recognition and voice text reply, were standard. Bluetooth supported two devices simultaneously. Optional features included a McIntosh 19-speaker audio system, dual-screen rear-seat entertainment with Amazon Fire TV, and a camera-based rearview mirror. The voice recognition performed well but had limitations. The interactive display allowed front passengers to assist with navigation and entertainment, potentially reducing driver distraction.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan enhanced its safety with standard Front Assist and Side Assist from the Tiguan S trim. These features offered forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance at speeds over 40 mph. Emergency Assist, active when Travel Assist was on, could bring the vehicle to a safe stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan had earned a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, with the 2022 enhancements potentially improving this rating. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee brought a host of advanced driver assistance systems, leveraging a safety cage largely built from aluminum and high-strength steel. Jeep provided Intersection Collision Assist, a rare feature that warned of front cross-traffic at intersections. Active Driving Assist offered Level 2 semi-autonomous driving with lane-centering and adaptive cruise control. This system showed proficiency but required driver attention, particularly on curving roads. A hands-free version of Active Driving Assist, set to release in 2022, promised even more automated driving on approved roads.