2024 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier, more rugged design, embracing a European-inspired aesthetic. The refresh included a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The ST-Line Elite trim we tested featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale look akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked premium but felt plasticky, though the seats were comfortable and supportive for long drives. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cheap and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan exuded a premium feel, thanks to its well-designed exterior and standard LED headlights and taillights. The SEL R-Line trim we tested included silver roof rails and an illuminated grille light line, adding to its sophisticated appearance. The base trim offered limited color options, but higher trims allowed for more customization. Inside, the Tiguan's seats were firm, and the two-row configuration provided ample cargo space. The third-row option, available only in FWD models, compromised cargo space but still offered decent passenger room. The interior dimensions were generous, with the second row providing ample legroom and headroom.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD. The higher trims, such as the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard, while AWD was available for an additional $1,500 on lower trims and standard on the top trim. The AWD models featured a slightly larger fuel tank and a combined fuel economy of 24-25 mpg. The SEL R-Line trim we tested had inconsistent power delivery, with turbo and transmission lag. The steering was light but rubbery, and the brake pedal had excessive travel. However, visibility and handling were good, making the Tiguan feel maneuverable despite its size.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Passenger space was also slightly less than competitors, though the back seat's headroom and padded front-seat backs helped maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's top-trim test car featured firm seats in both rows. The two-row configuration provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The three-row configuration, available only in FWD models, reduced cargo space but still offered decent passenger room. The Tiguan provided generous headroom and legroom in the first two rows, though the third row was significantly tighter. Despite this, the Tiguan remained one of the few compact crossovers to offer a third row.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen upgraded the cabin's look and was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and the native navigation system. However, the system was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to operate. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base trim had a 6.5-inch screen and fewer USB-C ports. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line trim offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System on the top trim received high praise for its sound quality.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, the IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and its safety offering improved for 2024 with the standardization of Volkswagen's IQ.DRIVE suite. This included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Additional standard features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection. Park Distance Control became standard at the SE R-Line Black trim level, though its Maneuver Braking feature was found to be intrusive.