2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite efforts to enhance its rugged appearance with a 2019 refresh and a 2020 Black Edition, the exterior design remained polarizing. Available in five trims in Canada, the Pilot offered standard all-wheel drive and a range of features, with prices from $42,905 to $56,805. The Black Edition, fully loaded with exclusive black leather upholstery and red accents, was priced at $58,806. While quality materials were evident, the interior design felt more like a minivan, which, along with its exterior, did not favour the Pilot.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan boasted a conservative yet timeless design, aligning with VW's larger models. The refreshed exterior featured a new grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned wheels. Available in four trims in Canada, all with standard 4Motion AWD, the Tiguan's pricing ranged from $33,395 to $43,395. The Highline R-Line trim, with its Atlantic Blue Metallic paint and 20-inch wheels, offered a sportier look. Inside, the Tiguan impressed with a rich cabin, perforated leather upholstery, and ambient lighting, though hard plastics hinted at its mass-market status. The touch controls, while sophisticated, proved challenging to use.

The 2021 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Its nine-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring AWD system provided smooth power delivery and agile handling. The Pilot's fuel efficiency was rated at 11.0 L/100 km in combined driving, with a test average of 10.9 L/100 km. Despite its comfortable ride and responsive steering, the Pilot's off-road capability was limited by its ground clearance and approach angles.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD system offered various driving modes, including Offroad and Custom Offroad. The Tiguan's fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 L/100 km, with a test average of 9.5 L/100 km. While nimble and responsive in normal driving, the Tiguan's performance was hindered by turbo lag and less engaging handling at higher speeds.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided ample space for families, seating up to eight with a bench second-row seat. The Black Edition featured comfortable leather-wrapped front seats with heating and ventilation, though the front passenger seat had limited adjustment. Second-row captain's chairs were heated and nearly as comfortable as the front seats. The Pilot offered 524 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,583 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 3,092 litres.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, a spacious compact crossover, offered an optional third row. The Highline R-Line trim featured leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, with rear air conditioning vents and storage. Cargo space was competitive, with 1,064 litres behind the back seat and a maximum of 2,078 litres in the two-row configuration.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added a rear-seat entertainment system, wireless phone charging, and a premium audio system. While adequate, the system's small screen and limited HondaLink services were drawbacks.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital gauges and the MIB3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net services, and smartphone mirroring. The Highline R-Line trim offered a 10.25-inch display, a redesigned navigation system, and a Fender premium audio system. Despite improvements, the voice recognition system was disappointing, and touch controls were challenging to use.

The 2021 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Touring trim added blind-spot monitoring. While effective, the system lacked refinement. The Pilot received favourable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and "good" ratings from IIHS.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were available, enhancing safety. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS, with improvements expected for 2022.