2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that leaned towards conservatism, featuring a creased, folded, and symmetrical aesthetic. This approach, while not eliciting strong emotional responses, was appreciated for its simplicity and minimalism, ensuring the vehicle aged gracefully. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, incorporating a new grille with the updated VW logo and standard LED headlights. The SUV also featured new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate and redesigned aluminum wheels, adding a touch of modernity to its classic look.

The Tiguan lineup was simplified for 2022, offering trims such as S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line, with options for front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices ranged from $25,995 to $36,995, with an additional destination charge of $1,195. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970 MSRP, showcased a sportier look with features like machined-surface 18-inch alloy wheels and Atlantic Blue Metallic paint. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, though the hard plastic lower half hinted at its mass-market status.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the Defender featured a thoroughly modern design with rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights for a unique personality. The modern Defender was significantly larger than its predecessor, offering improved interior space and ergonomics.

The interior design of the Defender emphasized its rugged character without appearing cheesy. Land Rover left some bare metal and exposed screws in the door for a different look, complemented by nice metal trim for the steering wheel. The high-end Defender 90 V8 test car featured a mix of leather upholstery and suede, which seemed more practical for off-road adventures. The Defender’s interior was designed to handle mud and dirt better than traditional all-leather approaches, making it a more practical choice for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan continued with 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 option for VW’s 4Motion AWD system. This system could direct up to half of the power to the rear wheels when needed, but decoupled the rear axle to save fuel when AWD wasn’t required. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings available with 4Motion.

The Tiguan’s Hill Descent Control system engaged in Offroad mode, operating at speeds up to 19 mph. However, with just 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The SUV featured MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with variable assist steering that adjusted based on speed. Despite some turbo lag when accelerating from a stop, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive once the torque kicked in. However, the engine’s performance seemed limited, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving situations but lacked the fun factor when pushed to its limits.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All Defender models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive (4WD) with a two-speed transfer case.

The V8 model featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. However, the Defender 90 V8 felt less poised than the six-cylinder model, bringing unwanted drama to cornering. Despite this, the Defender was impressively comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimal noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender’s boxy shape also made it less susceptible to crosswinds compared to a Jeep Wrangler. The Defender excelled in off-road conditions, with a 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. The optional Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control further enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Defender also boasted an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to rival smaller midsize SUVs like the Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. Volkswagen even included a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though this feature was not available in 4Motion models. The SEL R-Line test vehicle offered exceptional comfort with leather-wrapped front seats, eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The tall driving position and excellent outward visibility, combined with a panoramic glass sunroof, made for a pleasant driving experience.

The Tiguan’s second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, easily accommodating children and reverse-facing child safety seats. The SEL R-Line test vehicle included rear air conditioning vents, a USB smartphone charging port, and ample storage. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard for 2022 proved challenging to use. Cargo space was among the best in its class, with 37.6 cubic feet of luggage volume behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 73.4 cubic feet in 4Motion models.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. However, accessing them was challenging in the two-door model, and cargo space was limited. The four-door Defender 110 model offered more versatility, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models provided 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Defender’s interior design emphasized functionality, with the shifter and climate-control knobs placed on a shelf extending from the dashboard, leaving room for a large caged storage space below. The center-console storage bin was one of the largest outside a full-size pickup truck and could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes that mounted to the side pillars.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with most versions using 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, carried over in all but the base Tiguan S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The MIB3 system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, 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 of the MIB3 system required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription plan, which was not active in the evaluation vehicle. Car-Net’s Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. Additional Car-Net plans included Safe & Secure and Hotspot, with various features like automatic crash notification and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 2022 Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system, standard with SEL R-Line trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an 11.4-inch touchscreen newly available for 2022. The user interface was well-designed, with easy-to-navigate menus and a distinctive look, though the screen required a firm touch to respond.

Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful for off-roading. The side camera views helped supplement the mirrors, while the front view was great for spotting obstacles on the trail.

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 received significant upgrades, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, while Emergency Assist operated when Travel Assist was active, slowing the SUV and bringing it to a full stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the 2022 model’s new features could potentially improve that score.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. While some non-luxury brands offered these features as standard, Land Rover was not alone among luxury brands in making them optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.