2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both creased and symmetrical, leaning towards conservatism. 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, 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.

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, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970 MSRP, featured a sportier look with machined-surface 18-inch alloy wheels and Atlantic Blue Metallic paint. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer-looking cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. However, the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats, with remote engine starting available from the SE trim.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door model. Engine options included a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or plug-in hybrid powertrain, with the turbo-four and V6 engines coming standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The Wrangler offered four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions and optional features, making the price range from about $30,000 to $80,000, excluding the destination charge.

The test vehicle was the new High Tide special edition, based on the four-door Sport S trim, featuring LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, a Gorilla Glass windshield, and High Tide or Beach hood decals. The High Tide stood out with the Xtreme Recon package, including a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires, and a 4.56 rear axle ratio. The test vehicle also had a gasoline V6 engine with eTorque mild hybrid electrification, an automatic transmission, Selec-Trac full-time 4WD, and various option groups, bringing the MSRP to $58,845, including the $1,595 destination charge.

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. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings for 4Motion models. Hill Descent Control engaged in Offroad mode, but with just 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths.

The Tiguan featured MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with 13.4-inch vented front discs and 11.8-inch solid rear discs. Variable assist steering lightened at low speeds and firmed up at highway speeds. The engine's torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. Despite this, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, though it seemed VW could extract more power from the engine. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and a short drive in Malibu, California, yielded a 24.7 mpg average. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving but lacked the fun factor when pushed hard.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option, and the test vehicle also had the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The EPA rated the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6 at 21 mpg in combined driving, but the Xtreme Recon Package modifications reduced this to an average of 17.6 mpg on the evaluation route and 16.8 mpg over a week and 435 miles of driving.

Driving a Jeep Wrangler was a unique and immersive experience, engaging all senses. The Wrangler's rough-and-tumble driving experience, loud cabin, vague steering, touchy brakes, and unstable feel were well-known traits that enthusiasts loved. The Wrangler encouraged exploration and added excitement with an undercurrent of concern. The Wrangler's character and capabilities heightened awareness and sparked a wide range of human responses, from joy to irritation. The Wrangler was about escaping the daily grind and feeling free, but it required compromises in comfort, convenience, and refinement.

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, but 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line test vehicle featured 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. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was a notable change, though they were harder to use than traditional buttons and knobs.

Cargo space was among the best in the class, with FWD models offering 12 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 33 cubic feet with it folded down, and 65.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The 4Motion test vehicle had 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, comparable to midsize SUVs.

Getting into and out of the 2022 Jeep Wrangler was challenging, especially with the High Tide's raised suspension. The manual height adjuster for the driver's seat required regular re-adjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery and plastic and rubber interior materials. The driving position was close to the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield, requiring acclimation. Visibility was mixed, with excellent views in some areas and compromised views in others. Rear-seat passengers faced entry and exit difficulties but found agreeable accommodations once aboard.

Storage was limited, with netting on the lower door panels, a small tray on the dashboard, a deep center console box, and a narrow glove compartment. Loading cargo required swinging the tailgate from left to right, with the High Tide's heavier tailgate due to the 35-inch wheel. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

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 Tiguan S, 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 required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. Car-Net offered Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot plans, with additional Plus Navigation and Plus Online Radio options.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on Sport S trim, had a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system offered satellite radio, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system, bundled with an Alpine premium sound system. The test vehicle included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats and steering wheel from the Cold Weather Group.

The 2022 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 IQ Drive collection added Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which slowed and stopped the SUV 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 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Advanced Safety Group included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and Marginal ratings from the IIHS for small overlap crash-test protection and side-impact protection. Headlight performance was rated Poor for standard lights and Marginal for LED upgrades.