2023 Lexus RX Hybrid 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. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan 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 added to its updated look. The SEL R-Line model, in particular, boasted a sportier appearance with machined-surface 18-inch alloy wheels and a choice of four paint colors, including the striking Atlantic Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line offered a richer-looking cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color options. The interior featured tastefully rendered metallic accents, giving it an upscale appearance, though the hard plastic on the lower half of the cabin hinted at its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry with 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 its next redesign.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, redesigned for the new model year, was introduced in Santa Barbara, California. The RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions were the focus, with the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid arriving later in 2023. Visually, the RX 350h Luxury test vehicle looked identical to the standard RX 350, with no hybrid-specific badges or design elements. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, distinguished itself with a blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs.

The RX models maintained their blunt-nosed appearance, with a wheelbase stretch reducing the rear overhang and a signature rear roof pillar design visually shortening the SUV’s rear end. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had an all-black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. The RX 350h Luxury likely priced just over $60,000, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance approached $70,000.

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, 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 in Offroad mode, though its 7.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities.

The Tiguan featured MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with 13.4-inch vented front discs and 11.8-inch solid rear discs. The variable assist steering lightened at low speeds and firmed up at highway speeds. 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 estimated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing averaging 24.7 mpg. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving situations but lacked excitement when pushed for outright fun.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new hybrid powertrain for the RX 350h, replacing the previous RX 450h’s 3.5-liter V6 engine. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. Lexus claimed the RX 350h could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, with an expected average of 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system, produced 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The RX 500h was expected to achieve 27 mpg in combined driving.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and a Dynamic Rear Steering system, providing a more athletic driving experience. The six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in hybrid vehicles. However, accessing drive modes required navigating the infotainment system, which could be distracting. The RX 500h averaged 20.9 mpg during testing, while the RX 350h averaged 32 mpg, short of the estimated 36 mpg but still better than other RX models. The RX 350h felt more secure in curves and less busy on uneven pavement, with instant electric motor torque and a quiet cabin.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to compare to smaller midsize SUVs. Front-wheel-drive models featured a standard third-row seat, while 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line offered comfortable leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The tall driving position and excellent outward visibility, combined with a panoramic glass sunroof, made for a pleasant driving experience.

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 was a notable change, though they were harder to use than traditional buttons and knobs. Cargo space was among the best in the class, with 37.6 cubic feet of luggage volume behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 73.4 cubic feet in 4Motion models.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a comfortable and luxurious interior, with the RX 350h Luxury trim featuring ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The hybrids’ battery packs were housed under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom.

The new RX had increased cargo space, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. These numbers matched the standard RX 350, indicating the hybrid drivetrain did not encroach on cargo volume. The new RX offered significant improvement over the old model but still fell short compared to some rivals.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. 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 display, 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 was a touted improvement, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription plan. The Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan and Hotspot plan were available upgrades, with additional features like Plus Navigation and Plus Online Radio. The 2022 Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring activation of free trial subscriptions to various connected services plans. The Lexus Interface included Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system worked reasonably well during testing, though it had some limitations and required constant menu navigation.

The RX Hybrid also featured a head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel. These pads were unmarked, requiring drivers to look at the HUD to see which functions were active, which was problematic for those wearing polarized sunglasses. The new RX also offered an available Advanced Park system for semi-autonomous parking.

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, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which slowed the SUV and brought it 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 aimed to improve that score.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), including a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and a curve-speed reduction feature for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist automatically slowed the RX to maintain a safe following distance or speed on hill descents. The RX Hybrid models also had a regenerative braking system to recharge the battery pack.

The new front cross-traffic alert system provided visual indicators on the HUD, which were not visible with polarized sunglasses. The curve-speed reduction tech was reactive, slowing the RX upon curve entry. A driver monitoring system mounted to the steering wheel column could be blocked by a driver’s arm, resulting in warnings. The RX also offered a new Traffic Jam Assist system for low-speed, hands-free driving and an available Advanced Park system for semi-autonomous parking.