2022 Porsche Macan vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was creased, folded, 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 Atlas 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 for 2022, offering it in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices ranged from $25,995 to $36,995, with a destination charge of $1,195. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, equipped with standard 4Motion AWD and an accessory cargo cover, was priced at $37,970 MSRP. The R-Line models had a sportier look, with the SE R-Line Black featuring a trendy blacked-out appearance. The interior of the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color options, giving it an upscale appearance despite some hard plastic elements.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, remained nearly indistinguishable from its original design despite regular updates. For 2022, the Macan received another styling refresh, larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and a new center console with haptic touch controls and increased storage space. Each model in the lineup, including the base Macan, Macan S, and Macan GTS, gained more power and standard equipment. The Macan S test vehicle, priced at $87,670 including a $1,450 destination charge, featured nearly $20,000 in extras, including performance upgrades and premium paint and wheels.

The Macan S, with its Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, maintained Porsche’s tradition of aging gracefully. Its design, featuring a sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and a rakish roofline, conveyed a taut, athletic look. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsche models, with an ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, a large tachometer centered within the gauge cluster, and a flat, wide dashboard. The test vehicle’s red leather, gloss black interior trim, and silver metallic accents contributed to its upscale, sporty, and purposeful appearance.

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 programmable Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings available with 4Motion.

The Tiguan’s performance was characterized by momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop, requiring extra caution when turning across traffic. However, once the torque was fully engaged, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive. Despite its nimble and responsive feel in normal driving situations, the Tiguan’s tires and suspension were less cooperative when pushed for outright fun. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and the test drive in Malibu, California, yielded a 24.7 mpg average.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of powerful engines. The base Macan had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, producing 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S test vehicle featured a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, delivering 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package and launch control.

All Macans came with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The 2022 Macan S also included larger 20-inch standard wheels and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping suspension. The test vehicle’s optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB) enhanced its performance. The Macan S excelled in delivering a thrilling driving experience, with responsive steering, unyielding grip, and fantastic brake performance. The as-tested fuel economy was 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was notable for its spacious interior, 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-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 ample storage.

The Tiguan’s cargo space was among the best in its class. FWD models with the third-row seat had 12 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The 4Motion model offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard for 2022, while sophisticated in appearance, proved harder to use and potentially distracting.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, despite its sporty nature, provided comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger. The Macan S test vehicle had the optional Premium Package with 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats, though cramped, were comfortable and supportive. The new steering wheels, modeled after the 911 sports car, felt a bit thin and uncomfortable after extended driving.

The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls under a gloss black surface looked clean and advanced but required the driver to look away from the road to use. The Macan offered 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The new console design provided more storage space, but it was still limited.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a more sophisticated Digital Cockpit Pro system with a 10.25-inch display. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base Tiguan S, included an 8-inch touchscreen, 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.

Natural voice recognition, a touted improvement in the MIB3 system, required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription, which was not active in the evaluation vehicle. Car-Net offered a Remote Access plan complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan and Hotspot plan were available as upgrades, with additional features like Plus Navigation and Plus Online Radio.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services with available WiFi hotspot access. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional upgrades to a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system.

The PCM system featured touch-sensing virtual buttons and proximity sensing, making the user experience intuitive for smartphone users. However, the voice recognition system was less reliable, responding correctly only about half the time. Apple CarPlay could resolve this issue, but Android users were out of luck. Once configured, the Macan’s infotainment system required minimal interaction, with separate controls for frequently adjusted features like stereo volume and climate control.

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 could safely bring the vehicle 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 potentially improve that score.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist were optional, with blind-spot monitoring included in the test vehicle’s Premium Package. The Macan also offered front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and an optional Park Assist system. For more advanced driving assistance technology, the larger Porsche Cayenne was a better choice. The Macan had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.