2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan showcased a design that managed to stay clear of the unattractive territory many of its peers ventured into. With its creased, folded, and symmetrical design, the Tiguan's look was on the conservative side, aiming more for longevity than pizzazz, which could be a hit for fans of simplicity and minimalism. The revamped front styling aligned it with Volkswagen's larger Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models, featuring a restyled grille flaunting the new VW logo and a bright illuminated grille bar as an option. Standard LED headlights and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its polished look, along with fresh nameplate lettering gracing the rear liftgate.

Volkswagen streamlined its Tiguan lineup for 2022, offering S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), with prices starting at $25,995 and topping at $36,995 plus a $1,195 destination charge from their factory in Puebla, Mexico. The SEL R-Line variant, like the one evaluated, came with standard 4Motion AWD and an accessible cargo cover, pricing it at $37,970 MSRP. The sportier R-Line models took the visual appeal up a notch, especially the SE R-Line Black with its trendy, blacked-out appearance. The Atlantic Blue Metallic color option looked fantastic on the test car, matched with 18-inch alloy wheels that complemented the exterior’s shiny brightwork.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer cabin ambiance with its perforated and piped leather upholstery, infused with new technology, touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls, and ambient lighting in 15 different color choices. These metallic accents gave it an upscale feel, though the hard plastic at the lower half of the cabin did reveal its mass-market roots. Keyless entry and push-button start, along with heated front seats, became standard across the board. Higher trims like SE included remote engine starting. New Cinnamon and Noisette Brown interior colors and a panoramic glass sunroof were also on offer. The 2022 updates added a fresh touch to the Tiguan’s already impressive aesthetics.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid took a bold step away from its previous softer crossover design, adopting a substantially blockier appearance post its 2019 redesign. The trapezoidal grille borrowed from Toyota’s truck lineup added heft, framed by angled and beveled bodywork that accentuated the headlights. Initially, this was a striking departure, though many competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 soon followed suit.

Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid echoed its angular exterior with a multi-tiered dashboard featuring beveled cutouts, breaking the monotony of a plain surface. The layout was typical of the time, with a centrally mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical buttons and knobs for primary control. Materials quality was average for its class and price, with some hard plastics in the mix. Most human-contact surfaces, however, featured light padding. Despite this, the urethane steering wheel and armrest on the base and new Woodland trims felt subpar, quite rubbery to the touch. Fortunately, other trims offered a leather-wrapped wheel. The overall build quality was robust, showing no flex or creaking under duress.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan kept its powertrain unchanged, continuing with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission handled the power delivery to the front wheels unless opted for the 4Motion AWD, which could channel up to half the power to the rear wheels, disengaging when AWD wasn’t needed to save fuel.

Drive mode selection for Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual settings came standard for 2022, adding the Active Control system with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad modes for 4Motion variants. Hill Descent Control activated in Offroad mode, functional up to 19 mph, but with only 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was better suited for less rugged terrains. Its MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear setup paired with 13.4-inch vented front discs and 11.8-inch solid rear discs delivered a balanced ride. However, the 221 lb-ft torque arriving slightly late induced some turbo lag when accelerating from a stop, requiring cautious driving in busy traffic.

Otherwise, the Tiguan performed well, though lacking in outright fun if pushed hard, where the tires and suspension didn’t cooperate as spiritedly. While it wasn't made for aggressive driving, it provided a nimble and responsive experience in regular conditions typical of German-engineered cars. Fuel economy reportedly reached 24 mpg combined for the R-Line with 4Motion, with actual drives netting around 24.7 mpg.

For the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor/generator formed the heart, working alongside a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. A second electric motor provided AWD. This hybrid powertrain collectively generated 219 horsepower, adequate for a respectable 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds. This acceleration was slightly quicker than standard RAV4 models and competitive within the hybrid segment.

The hybrid system’s brakes worked seamlessly, switching from regenerative braking to physical brakes under hard stops without noticeable transition. Its suspension managed to smooth out road imperfections while maintaining confident cornering, though it didn’t claim to have sporty dynamics. The RAV4 Hybrid offered a balanced ride, free from complaints but not strikingly impressive.

The 2022 VW Tiguan stood out in the compact crossover segment because of its expansive interior, approaching the space of smaller midsize SUVs like the Chevrolet Blazer and Kia Sorento. The FWD models even came with a standard third-row seat, while the 4Motion versions didn’t. Front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation, and leather upholstery. The driving position could be adjusted to feel like a well-set dining chair, with excellent outward visibility and abundant natural light from the panoramic sunroof.

The second row in the Tiguan was equally roomy, easily accommodating adults and children alike, including those in reverse-facing child seats. The SEL R-Line variant tested came with rear air conditioning, a USB charging port, and good storage space. However, the new touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard, while sophisticated in appearance, were harder to use, often leading to missed inputs and driver confusion.

Cargo space in the Tiguan FWD models with the third-row had just 12 cubic feet behind the third seat, expanding to 65.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The 4Motion versions offered 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.4 cubic feet with seating down, comparable to midsize SUVs.

In the RAV4 Hybrid, both front and rear seats provided ample space, with more rear headroom than the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage, though less legroom. This difference was negligible, though rear-facing infant seats might necessitate moving the front seats forward. The low rear cushions could leave taller passengers wanting more thigh support on extended trips.

The RAV4 Hybrid’s cargo capacity was competitive at 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, just a tenth of a cubic foot smaller than the non-hybrid variant, indicating no sacrifice due to the battery pack. Comparatively, the Honda CR-V offered 39.5 cubic feet and the Kia Sportage 39.3 cubic feet, making the RAV4’s cargo space fairly standard. Its standout feature was significant interior storage, with a wide shelf for the front passenger, a phone tray, optional wireless charging pad, sizeable cupholders, a large center bin, and average-sized door pockets.

The 2022 Tiguan came standard with digital instrumentation known as Digital Cockpit, featuring an 8-inch display across most trims, with the SEL R-Line upgrading to a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system carried over in most models except the base S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. MIB3’s 8-inch screen, standard Car-Net services, App-Connect smartphone integration, and SiriusXM 360L were standard, with the SEL R-Line getting an enhanced navigation system and a robust nine-speaker Fender audio system.

Unfortunately, natural voice recognition disappointed in tests since a Plus Speech upgrade and active Car-Net Hotspot subscription were required for functionality. It resulted in the MIB3 system being more useful when paired via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or Mirror Link through Car-Net. Complimentary for five years, the Remote Access plan allowed remote operations such as engine start and door lock management.

The RAV4 Hybrid’s 2023 model introduced a significantly improved infotainment system, aligning modern graphics and logical menu arrangements. The screen atop the dashboard minimized driving distractions, featuring an 8.0-inch display on most trims and a 10.5-inch touchscreen on higher-end models. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard wirelessly, though wireless charging required an upgrade. Over-the-air software updates and a Wi-Fi hotspot were offered, with fully digital instrumentation in the top trim and an average six-speaker system. The Limited trim received a powerful 11-speaker JBL audio system.

The 2022 Tiguan made forward strides in safety equipment. Starting from the base trim, Front Assist and Side Assist became standard, with additional significant improvements to the IQ Drive system. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, operational over 40 mph, though activating it on touch-sensing controls could be tricky.

Emergency Assist, active with Travel Assist, could slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan’s “Top Safety Pick” rating by IIHS, likely improved with 2022’s enhanced LED headlights and advanced driver aids.

The 2023 RAV4 Hybrid received excellent safety ratings, earning five stars in overall and side crash protection from NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick” from IIHS. Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 suite became standard, including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. The XLE trim added blind-spot monitoring, while the Limited trim featured parking sensors and an optional surround-view camera and digital rearview mirror.