2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained its design from the previous year, with the most notable update being the addition of a complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan. Available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, the Tiguan's price ranged from $26,950 to $37,680, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured a sporty appearance with 20-inch machined-finish wheels and adaptive front lighting. Despite a variety of color and upholstery options, choices were limited by trim level, restricting customization. The interior boasted upscale materials, including leather upholstery and artificial wood trim, alongside a panoramic sunroof and digital instrumentation, creating a solidly constructed and upscale cabin.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, redesigned for the year, was available in RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid versions. The RX 350h Luxury model, with its Iridium silver finish and 21-inch wheels, offered a seamless hybrid appearance without overt hybrid branding. The RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling. While the RX maintained its popularity, its design was not considered stunning, with a blunt-nosed appearance and a visually shortened rear end. Inside, the RX featured a minimalistic design with contemporary textures, ambient lighting, and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury model showcased Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance offered a sportier interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped 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. Front-wheel drive was standard, with an optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes such as Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Tiguan's EPA rating was 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 22.6 mpg. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, but higher revs revealed a lack of motive force, and the automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and a comfortable ride.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, its fuel economy was lower at 27 mpg. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering provided athleticism and confidence in corners. The RX 350h, with its lower center of gravity and electric motor torque, offered a secure and quiet driving experience, averaging 32 mpg. The RX 500h's infotainment system required navigating menus to access driving modes, impacting fuel efficiency.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a spacious interior, with FWD models featuring a standard third-row seat. However, opting for AWD increased cargo space, providing 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The SEL R-Line trim featured comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls, however, were criticized for their usability issues. The Tiguan excelled in passenger space, with generous legroom and headroom in the rear seats, and a hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area with adjustable load floor height.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable and luxurious interior, with the RX 350h Luxury trim offering ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The hybrid's battery placement under the rear seat resulted in excellent leg support but limited headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, an improvement over the previous model but still less than some competitors.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim offering a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was criticized for its complexity and distracting touch-sensing controls. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions, limiting its usefulness.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring activation of connected services plans for full functionality. The Lexus Interface offered cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. While the system generally performed well, it had limitations, such as displaying only one screen menu at a time and suffering from reflections. The available head-up display, with dual-function touch-sensing control pads, was problematic for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with standard safety features, including Front Assist with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, and Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The IQ.Drive package, standard on most models, added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and semi-autonomous driving assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was praised for its effectiveness and subtlety. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact test.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist, which maintained safe following distances, was also available. While the safety features generally operated well, some irritations were noted, such as the front cross-traffic alert system's reliance on visual indicators and the curve-speed reduction tech's reactive nature. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, though these were not tested.