2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both creased and symmetrical, leaning towards a conservative aesthetic. This approach, while not overly emotional, aged well and appealed to fans of simplicity and minimalism. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, featuring a new grille with the updated VW logo and available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its refined look. The Tiguan lineup was simplified into 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, showcased a sportier look with Atlantic Blue Metallic paint and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color options. Metallic accents added an upscale touch, though hard plastic in the lower cabin hinted at 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. New interior colors and a panoramic sunroof were also options. Overall, the 2022 Tiguan retained its great looks while adding extra flair, keeping it fresh until a full redesign.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Despite its spacious interior, the design tricks made it appear smaller. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions for iPads and juice boxes. The XSE trim, with its bold red leather interior and navy blue exterior, stood out with unique styling, ambient lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension.

Highlander trims included L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base L trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, pushbutton start, three-zone climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Higher trims added features like LED fog lights, a smart key system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power liftgate, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power moonroof. The XSE trim featured unique exterior styling, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a no-cost “Red Cockpit” leather option. The Limited and Platinum trims offered upscale features like heated and ventilated front seats, genuine leather upholstery, a hands-free power liftgate, and a JBL premium audio system.

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 Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The suspension system included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with variable assist steering for better handling. However, the engine's torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, causing momentary turbo lag. The Tiguan achieved an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving, with our test drive averaging 24.7 mpg. While nimble and responsive in normal driving, the Tiguan's tires and suspension were less cooperative when pushed for performance.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to standard FWD or available AWD. The transmission featured a tap-shift function and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on certain trims. Drive modes included Sport, Normal, and Eco, with additional AWD modes for Mud/Sand and Rock. The V6 engine provided better pickup once moving, with ample power for highway overtakes and a throaty exhaust note. The Highlander’s handling was commendable, with the XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while maintaining a smooth ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to rival smaller midsize SUVs. FWD models featured a standard third-row seat, while 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line offered exceptional comfort with leather-wrapped, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and ample storage. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was less user-friendly. Cargo space was among the best in its class, with 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row down. The 4Motion model offered 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second row in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The seats were easy to lower and lift, with quick-release latches and pull-straps. Trims above the base L featured a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on Limited and Platinum trims. The base L trim included an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, deep cargo pockets, and multiple storage areas. The XSE trim had second-row captain’s chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row. While the second row was spacious for adults, the third row was only suitable for short trips.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro on the SEL R-Line. The MIB3 infotainment system, introduced last year, was available on all but the base S trim, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. MIB3 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. However, the natural voice recognition feature required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. Car-Net offered Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot plans, with additional features like Plus Navigation and Plus Online Radio. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system on the SEL R-Line.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, along with a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

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 IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems added Travel Assist, combining 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 improvements could enhance this rating.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes overly so, especially on back roads.