2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet appealing design, distinguishing itself from its less attractive competitors. Its refreshed exterior featured new front styling, aligning it with Volkswagen's larger models like the Atlas. The updated grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels contributed to its modern look. The Tiguan's interior was equally impressive, offering a sophisticated cabin with leather upholstery, advanced technology, and ambient lighting. However, the use of hard plastic in the lower cabin areas hinted at its mass-market positioning. Overall, the Tiguan maintained its stylish appearance while incorporating subtle enhancements.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs. The front end received a restyle, featuring an Audi-esque grille that some felt diminished its elegance. Despite this, the Navigator's interior continued to impress with high-quality materials and a mid-century modern design. The introduction of Lincoln's Constellation display theme added a unique touch to the instrumentation and infotainment systems. The Navigator's updates, including a larger touchscreen and improved infotainment system, ensured it remained competitive in the luxury SUV segment.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission delivered power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with additional settings for AWD models. Despite its enjoyable driving experience, the Tiguan's engine exhibited some turbo lag, and its fuel economy was modest at 24 mpg combined. The SUV's ride and handling were satisfactory for everyday driving, though it lacked the excitement some enthusiasts might seek.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator continued to feature a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator offered both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive options. Its towing capacity ranged from 8,100 to 8,700 pounds, depending on configuration. The Navigator's adaptive-damping suspension, equipped with Road Preview technology, provided a smooth ride even on imperfect roads. The SUV's fuel economy was reasonable at 18 mpg combined, and its performance in various driving conditions, including snow and mud, was commendable.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact crossovers with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered a standard third-row seat in front-wheel-drive models, while 4Motion versions focused on cargo space. The SEL R-Line trim provided comfortable leather seats with power adjustments and excellent visibility. The second row accommodated adults comfortably, and the cargo space was generous, with up to 73.4 cubic feet available in AWD models. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging for some users.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator excelled in interior comfort, featuring 30-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs offered similar amenities, enhancing passenger comfort. The third-row seat remained spacious and supportive, benefiting from the Navigator's independent rear suspension. Cargo space was abundant, with up to 103.3 cubic feet available in standard models and 120.2 cubic feet in the long-wheelbase Navigator L. The Navigator's interior design and storage solutions catered to families and those needing ample space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in most trims, offered an 8-inch touchscreen, connected services, and smartphone mirroring. However, the natural voice recognition feature required additional subscriptions, limiting its functionality. The Tiguan also offered a Park Assist system for autonomous parking, enhancing convenience for drivers.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display. The system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with user profiles for personalized settings. The voice recognition system showed improvement, though it still had room for refinement. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system featured Amazon Fire TV, providing access to popular streaming services. The Navigator's 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered an exceptional listening experience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard safety features like Front Assist and Side Assist. The IQ Drive collection added Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, enhancing driver assistance capabilities. However, the touch-sensing controls posed challenges in activating these features. The 2021 Tiguan received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's improvements aimed to maintain or improve this rating.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced several new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. The surround-view camera system became standard, enhancing safety. ActiveGlide, Lincoln's semi-autonomous driving technology, performed well on approved highways, though it required driver attention. These systems represented steps toward fully autonomous driving, emphasizing the importance of driver responsibility.