2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 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 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, featuring a new grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels. The SUV was available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995. 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-looking cabin with perforated leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. The interior featured metallic accents, though the hard plastic in the lower half revealed 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. The updated Tiguan retained its great looks while adding extra pizzazz, ensuring it remained fresh until a full redesign.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, while conservative in its exterior styling, remained an attractive SUV. The five-passenger vehicle continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, available in SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims. Our test vehicle, a top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD, featured Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, with a base price of $42,600. The total MSRP, including AWD and additional features, was $45,845. The Santa Fe's distinctive elements included wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, though the design normalized quickly from front to rear.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim offered a high-quality look with black leather seats, though the dark, monotone appearance could benefit from a beige or gray interior for visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The Santa Fe's cabin was equipped with numerous comfort and convenience features, including dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite minor shortcomings, such as the driver's seat position and wide center console, the Santa Fe's interior was spacious and well-appointed.

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 VW’s 4Motion AWD available as an option. The AWD system could send up to half of the power to the rear wheels, decoupling the rear axle when not needed to save fuel. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models. The Tiguan's Hill Descent Control system operated at speeds up to 19 mph, though its 7.6 inches of ground clearance limited off-road capabilities.

The Tiguan's MacPherson struts in front and multi-link independent rear suspension provided a balanced ride, with variable assist steering that adjusted based on speed. The engine's torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. Despite this, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, though it could benefit from more power and performance. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, with our test drive averaging 24.7 mpg. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, though it struggled when pushed for outright fun.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine and a turbocharged version. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured the non-turbo engine, producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims added a turbocharger, boosting output to 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD available as an option on all trims. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector offered Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, with paddle shifters adding a touch of sportiness.

The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The turbo engine delivered quick, clean acceleration without undue noise or harshness. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering and lane changes. The Santa Fe's dual-clutch transmission performed well, avoiding the low-speed clunkiness often associated with such systems. While we didn't test the AWD-lock function or towing capabilities, the turbo Santa Fe could tow up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance rivaled that of any other SUV at its price point.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to compare to smaller midsize SUVs. FWD models featured a standard third-row seat, while 4Motion models did not. Our SEL R-Line test vehicle offered exceptional comfort, with leather-wrapped front seats providing eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The tall driving position and excellent outward visibility, combined with a panoramic glass sunroof, enhanced the cabin experience. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and ample storage.

Cargo space in the Tiguan 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. Our 4Motion test vehicle offered 37.6 cubic feet of luggage volume behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 73.4 cubic feet, rivaling midsize SUVs. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added sophistication but proved harder to use, potentially distracting drivers.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered more rear-seat legroom and additional cargo space. The Santa Fe's 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom was among the best in its class, and cargo space behind the second row was a competitive 36.4 cubic feet. Folding down the second row provided 72.1 cubic feet of storage space, with an underfloor storage compartment adding extra utility. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, with dual-zone climate control and a hands-free smart liftgate.

The Limited trim added a power driver seat cushion extension, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats, rear side-window sunshades, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, a microfiber headliner, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof spanned both rows of seats, enhancing the cabin's airy feel. Despite minor issues with the driver's seat position and wide center console, the Santa Fe's interior was spacious and well-appointed.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with most versions using an 8-inch display. The SEL R-Line included a more sophisticated Digital Cockpit Pro system with a 10.25-inch display. 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, 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 was a touted feature of MIB3, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. The Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan offered automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, while the Hotspot plan provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 2022 Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system, standard on the SEL R-Line, which could autonomously steer the SUV into parking spaces.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a larger, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB ports. All other trims included a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, digital key, and Bluelink connected services. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The Santa Fe's infotainment systems were user-friendly, with clearly marked home screen icons and logical arrangement. The voice-recognition system handled address and point-of-interest commands efficiently but struggled with music requests and temperature changes. Despite some challenges, the system's capability was impressive for a mass-market brand. The Santa Fe's technology offerings, combined with its advanced driver assistance systems, made it a standout in its class.

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 Tiguan’s 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 SUV to a 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 aimed to improve that score.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist, standard on SEL and above, combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.