2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volvo XC60, a product of Volvo's rebirth under Geely Holding Group, showcased a blend of near-luxury and innovative design. Built on the SPA platform, the XC60 shared its architecture with other Volvo models, offering a cohesive and elegant design. Its exterior featured a tailored two-box design with short overhangs, an upright grille with the iconic iron mark logo, and Thor's hammer-shaped LED headlights. The interior exuded Scandinavian style with clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene atmosphere. The 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen was a standout feature, complemented by elegant HVAC vents and harmonious textures and colours throughout the cabin.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, with its conservative yet timeless design, aligned with Volkswagen's larger Atlas models. The refreshed exterior included a restyled grille with the new VW logo, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels. In Canada, the Tiguan was available in four trim levels, all with standard 4Motion AWD. The Highline R-Line trim offered a sportier look with features like perforated leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting. Despite some hard plastics, the interior maintained an upscale appearance. The Tiguan's exterior and interior updates aimed to keep it fresh until a full redesign.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The T5 model produced 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 model delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models, being plug-in hybrids, combined a gasoline engine with an 87-hp electric motor, resulting in 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Polestar Engineered variant further increased output to 415 hp. The XC60's AWD system and torque vectoring provided a smooth and secure driving experience, with fuel consumption figures ranging from 11.1 L/100 km city to 4.0 Le/100 km in electric-only mode.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Power was delivered through an 8-speed automatic transmission to the 4Motion AWD system. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, along with Offroad settings. Despite its 19 cm ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in slight turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 L/100 km combined, with a 9.5 L/100 km average during testing. The Tiguan's ride and handling were nimble in normal driving but less engaging when pushed.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 excelled in comfort and practicality, with highly adjustable front seats and a robust heating system ideal for winter conditions. The cabin featured smart storage solutions and intuitive controls, while the cargo space offered 613 litres behind the rear seats and up to 1,410 litres with the seats folded. The XC60's towing capacity was rated at 1,587 kilograms.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out for its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. The Highline R-Line trim provided leather-wrapped, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The second row offered ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults and children alike. The Tiguan's cargo space was impressive, with 1,064 litres behind the back seat and a maximum of 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. However, the optional third row reduced cargo capacity to 339 litres.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a tablet-style touchpad interface. The system's portrait orientation and function quadrants allowed for intuitive navigation, though it required a learning curve. Smartphone integration included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, while the Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system delivered exceptional audio quality.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with the Digital Cockpit, featuring an 8-inch display in most trims and a 10.25-inch display in the Highline R-Line. The MIB3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, offered standard App-Connect smartphone mirroring and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Highline R-Line trim included a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender audio system. However, the natural voice recognition feature was less effective, and the touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 boasted a strong safety heritage, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, collision avoidance, and more. Volvo's Pilot Assist system offered semi-autonomous driving capabilities, and the XC60's top speed was limited to 180 km/h for safety.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist systems, with available Travel Assist and Emergency Assist for enhanced safety. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, while Emergency Assist could bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with improvements expected for 2022.