Volkswagen Tiguan vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, sold in China and North America, positioned itself between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick’s lineup. The 2021 Envision was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a solid premium crossover styling that gave it a more planted appearance. It showcased a more sculpted look compared to its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but wasn’t as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision offered three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim making its debut in this model year, featuring upgraded exterior elements and a unique interior trim pattern.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a refreshed design that aligned it with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models. The Tiguan’s creased, folded, and symmetrical design leaned towards conservatism, which aged well over time. The new front styling included a restyled grille with the new VW logo and an available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels were part of the 2022 updates. The Tiguan lineup was simplified to S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970, featured a sportier look with Atlantic Blue Metallic paint and machined-surface 18-inch alloy wheels.

The 2021 Buick Envision saw a significant change in its powertrain with the introduction of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 2.5-liter engine. This new engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque of the 2020 model. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the weight savings did not compensate for the power loss. The Envision offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. Fuel efficiency improved, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The AWD version fared slightly worse with 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. However, the Envision’s drivability was more akin to a Lincoln, providing comfortable cruising without sporty dynamics.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained 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 VW’s 4Motion AWD available. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models. The Tiguan’s ride and handling were nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, but it lacked the power and performance expected from its engine. The EPA estimated the R-Line with 4Motion to achieve 24 mpg in combined driving, with our test drive averaging 24.7 mpg. The Tiguan’s handling was competent, but it lacked the excitement for more spirited driving.

The 2021 Buick Envision’s redesign did not translate into a more functional cabin. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, with rear-seat passengers losing two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger’s access to controls, and forward visibility was compromised. However, the Envision offered standard heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, offered a spacious interior comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. The SEL R-Line featured leather-wrapped, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and excellent outward visibility. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. Cargo space was generous, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Tiguan’s touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard, though sophisticated, were harder to use and could be distracting.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could easily scroll through channels using the available 8.0-inch driver information display. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Car-Net connected services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, was available in all but the base Tiguan S. The SEL R-Line included 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 Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA and IIHS. Standard safety features included a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist on the Tiguan S. The IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems included Travel Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which operated when Travel Assist was active. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s standard LED headlights and advanced driver aids were expected to improve that score.