2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Acura MDX presented itself as a luxury SUV with a range of standard and Type S versions, each offering various trim packages to enhance equipment levels. The standard MDX was available with Technology, A-Spec, and Advance packages, while the Type S came in standard or Advance trim. Prices ranged from $49,550 to $73,200, excluding a destination charge. The test vehicle, a Type S Advance, featured a striking Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid interior, with an MSRP of $74,995. Despite its high price, the MDX Type S aimed to deliver quality, luxury, and driving dynamism, but it occasionally fell short of expectations. The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to sport the Type S badge, characterized by subtle design elements like chicane-design LED lights, 21-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. Inside, it boasted perforated Milano leather, aluminum trim, and a Sport Appearance package, with the Type S Advance adding open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. While the MDX Type S was visually appealing, some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made controls challenging to use.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following updates in 2022, remained largely unchanged. The most notable update was the addition of a complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $26,950 to $37,680, plus a destination charge. The test vehicle, an SEL R-Line, had an MSRP of $38,975. Despite offering seven exterior colors, four interior colors, and various wheel designs, choices were limited by trim level. The SEL R-Line, with Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather, was favored for its sporty appearance and 20-inch wheels. The Tiguan's design was conservative yet aging gracefully, featuring adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. The Tiguan's construction felt solid, offering a comfortable and spacious interior.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, a significant increase over the standard 3.5-liter V6. However, the Type S was 285 pounds heavier than the lightest standard MDX with AWD. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive performance experience. The transmission was indecisive, the ride lacked compliance, and the brakes were difficult to modulate. The engine's power increase was not substantial enough to justify its poor fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg in combined driving. The MDX Type S was more agreeable in Normal mode but faced challenges in Sport and Sport+ modes, with issues like brake pedal response and tire squeal detracting from the driving experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with VW's 4Motion AWD available. The SEL R-Line came with AWD as standard, offering various driving modes, including Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad. The Tiguan's EPA rating was 24 mpg in combined driving, but it achieved 22.6 mpg during testing. The Tiguan's powertrain provided adequate power, though it lacked motive force at higher revs. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled, but Sport mode improved performance. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip and stable handling. The ride was compliant, offering a good balance between road feel and comfort. The Tiguan's steering was light and lively, and its visibility was excellent, making it easy to park. Overall, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive once acclimated to its powertrain quirks.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered a functional interior with three rows of seats and a spacious cargo area. The test vehicle featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, wrapped in quilted leather. However, the seats were firm and didn't provide the expected support for enthusiastic driving. The MDX accommodated seven passengers, with a removable second-row center section for easier access to the third row. The third row was best suited for children due to limited space. The cabin prioritized style over storage, with limited space under the center armrest. The cargo area was spacious, with a hands-free liftgate and a Walk Away Close function. The MDX offered 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan provided a roomy interior, with FWD models offering a standard third-row seat. The SEL R-Line featured comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were challenging to use, but the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and headroom. The cargo area was cavernous, with an adjustable load floor and handy levers for folding the seats. The Tiguan offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats with AWD. FWD models had slightly reduced cargo space due to the third-row seat.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. The TTI design limited storage space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In. The test vehicle had a Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers, delivering impressive sound quality. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display, though the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread signs.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came with digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. The system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system was unreliable, often lacking a data connection. The Tiguan's technology introduced unnecessary complexity, but the digital instrumentation and infotainment features were otherwise impressive.

The 2023 Acura MDX included Acura Watch, a suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems. Features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional parking sensors. The safety systems were generally accurate, though the lane-departure warning was occasionally triggered by pavement scars. The MDX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it earned four stars for frontal-impact protection.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered comprehensive safety features, including Front Assist, Side Assist, and an Automatic Post Collision Braking System. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and rarely issued false alerts. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the Tiguan's driver's door unlatched during a side-impact test. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but this did not apply for 2023.