2023 Volvo XC40 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. For 2022, the Tiguan received new front styling to align with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, a restyled grille with the new VW logo, and standard LED headlights. The SUV came in various trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, and our SEL R-Line test vehicle priced at $37,970 MSRP. The R-Line models had a sportier look, and the SE R-Line Black featured a trendy blacked-out appearance. Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer-looking cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, despite being around for a few years, maintained a distinctive look with a flat-roofed profile and clean exterior design. For 2023, Volvo updated the exterior with new pixelated “Thor’s Hammer” headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 shared its Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform with the Volvo C40 Recharge and Polestar 2, making it the only CMA-based model in the U.S. with a combustion engine. Inside, the XC40 retained its minimalist design with attractive touches like thin air vents and scalloped door handles. The interior offered dual-zone automatic climate control, optional leather upholstery, and a panoramic moonroof in the Ultimate trim. However, the all-black interior of our test vehicle felt somewhat utilitarian.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan continued with 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. 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 the AWD models. The Tiguan’s Hill Descent Control system operated at speeds up to 19 mph in Offroad mode, but with only 7.6 inches of ground clearance, it was best suited for well-traveled paths. The Tiguan’s suspension and steering provided a nimble and responsive feel in normal driving situations, though it lacked outright fun when pushed hard. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and our test drive in Malibu, California, averaged 24.7 mpg.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator to assist the gasoline engine. The base B4 powertrain combined the mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 197 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. The B5 models offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four with 247 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only. The B4 and B5 models could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and 6.1 seconds, respectively. The XC40 Recharge, with its two electric motors, produced 402 hp and 486 pound-feet of torque, achieving a zero to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and an EPA-rated 223-mile range. The XC40’s chassis tuning provided a high level of refinement, absorbing bumps well and handling corners with composure, though it lacked a sport driving mode.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to compare to smaller midsize SUVs. It even offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models. Our SEL R-Line test vehicle featured comfortable leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was 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 our 4Motion test vehicle.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while marketed as an SUV, was better suited for solo commuting than school-run carpooling. It offered reasonable space among its competitive set, with ample rear-seat headroom and shoulder room. Volvo listed 20 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, less than some competitors. A power tailgate and keyless entry were standard on Plus and Ultimate models. The XC40’s interior storage was good, with scalloped door panels creating large carve-outs for bottles or handbags, and a fairly large center console storage bin and phone tray.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a more sophisticated Digital Cockpit Pro system with a 10.25-inch display. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base Tiguan S, included an 8-inch touchscreen, 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. However, the natural voice recognition feature 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 and other features. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system, standard with SEL R-Line trim.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 gasoline models received the Android-based infotainment system, using Google apps for navigation and voice recognition. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 9-inch touchscreen were standard, with the Ultimate trim adding a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment experience was similar to other Volvo models with the Android operating system, though users who preferred Apple might not find the Google built-in features as satisfying. The lack of analog controls meant using the touchscreen for most functions, which could be less convenient for some users.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan included standard Front Assist and Side Assist on the Tiguan S. 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 SUV 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 LED headlights and driver aids could improve that score.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 reflected Volvo’s reputation for safety with standard lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. Upgrading to the Plus trim added front parking sensors, while the Ultimate grade included side parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist. The IIHS gave the 2023 XC40 top “Good” ratings in most crash tests, though it received an “Acceptable” rating in the updated side-impact test. The NHTSA awarded the gasoline XC40 a five-star overall safety rating.