2023 Chevrolet Blazer 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 look. This approach, while not eliciting strong emotional responses, aged well and appealed to fans of simplicity and minimalism. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, and new features like LED headlights, redesigned aluminum wheels, and updated nameplate lettering added a touch of modernity. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with blacked-out elements and a striking Atlantic Blue Metallic paint.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line offered a richer cabin experience with perforated leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. The touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls added a sophisticated touch, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin reminded users of its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats, with higher trims offering remote engine start and additional interior color options.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer, on the other hand, adopted a sleek, road-car-inspired design with a low roofline and a big grille framed by stacked headlights. The Blazer RS test vehicle featured blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice among mainstream crossovers. Small styling updates for 2023 included new taillights, tweaked grille and headlight designs, and new wheel options, keeping the Blazer’s look fresh.

Inside, the Blazer’s sportier aesthetic was evident with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro. Cloth seats were standard, but higher trims offered leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control. The RS trim added blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, enhancing the interior’s appeal. The material quality in the high-end Blazer model was impressive, contributing to a more upscale feel.

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 decouple the rear axle to save fuel when not needed. Drivers could choose between 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 Tiguan’s suspension setup included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with vented front discs and solid rear discs. The variable assist steering adjusted based on speed, providing a nimble and responsive driving experience. However, the engine’s torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag. The EPA rated the AWD R-Line at 24 mpg combined, and our test drive in Malibu averaged 24.7 mpg. While the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, it lacked the outright fun factor some Volkswagen loyalists might seek.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and higher trims offered a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional AWD. Unlike some rivals, the Blazer required manual engagement of AWD via a center console knob.

Our V6-powered Blazer RS test car felt quick and had a sporty exhaust note, though it wasn’t a performance SUV. The Blazer’s weight and top-heavy design impacted handling, but it remained a pleasant highway cruiser with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The 21-inch wheels on our test car slightly detracted from ride quality. The Blazer’s AWD system and suspension were designed for pavement, not off-roading, and its 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though 4Motion models lacked this feature. Our SEL R-Line test vehicle provided exceptional comfort with leather-wrapped, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heating, and ventilation. The panoramic glass sunroof added to the airy feel, and outward visibility was excellent.

The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and ample storage. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added sophistication but could be challenging to use. Cargo space was among the best in its class, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded in our 4Motion test vehicle.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel from behind the wheel. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Legroom was ample in both rows. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, trailing behind some competitors.

Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious and easy to maneuver, with short overhangs aiding parking. The windshield offered an unobstructed view, enhancing the sense of space. Functional details like USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into the air vents added to the interior’s practicality.

For 2022, the 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 S trim, 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, which was not active in our test vehicle. Car-Net’s Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, offering remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. Additional plans included Safe & Secure and Hotspot, with various features like automatic crash notification and 4G LTE WiFi.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu sequence. However, a physical button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Blazer’s tech presentation was modern, with the new touchscreen among the largest in its segment.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist. The IQ Drive collection included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could slow and stop the vehicle if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s new features aimed to improve this score.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer’s standard Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was now available on lower trims, and other optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.

The IIHS gave the 2023 Blazer its highest “Good” rating in all crash-test categories and “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded the Blazer a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover testing.