2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport adopted a new styling that closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat, and featured distinct styling. Honda aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance with its updated nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: Sport, TrailSport, and Touring. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, offering a more capable look with features like unique 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, and simulated skid plates.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained its design from the previous year, offering a range of trims in Canada, including Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line. The R-Line trims featured sportier styling, and the Tiguan was available in six exterior colours and four interior colours, though choices were limited by trim level. The Highline R-Line trim, which we tested, boasted a sporty appearance with 20-inch machined-finish wheels and adaptive front lighting. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. However, the touch-sensing controls on the steering wheel and climate system were less user-friendly, detracting from the overall experience.

The 2022 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, it came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) featuring Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) system. This system could deliver up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport offered a firm, communicative ride with athletic handling, making it enjoyable to drive on various terrains. However, its brakes could heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, which was a concern given its 2,268-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, it featured VW's 4Motion AWD system, which could send up to 50% of power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with an Individual mode for customization. While the Tiguan's powertrain wasn't the most powerful, it provided a stable and predictable driving experience. The Tiguan's ride was compliant, and its variable-assist steering made it nimble and easy to park. However, the brake pedal required more effort than expected, and the turbo lag was noticeable when accelerating from a stop.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. Inside, it featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport's interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. It also provided generous cargo space, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and up to 2,854 litres with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was a roomy and affordable SUV, with some configurations offering a third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, so opting for a two-row model provided one of the largest cargo areas in the compact SUV class. The Tiguan's front seats were comfortable, with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were less user-friendly, but the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space. It offered 1,064 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,078 litres with the seats folded down, comparable to some midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The TrailSport trim added satellite radio, while the Touring trim featured a navigation system, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HondaLink connected services. However, the system's navigation was clunky, and the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base Sport trim.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims offering a larger 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 complex, with sub-menus and touch-sensing controls that could be distracting. The voice-recognition system was also less effective without an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist functions were less refined, and the adaptive cruise control could be abrupt in heavy traffic. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision, which earned four stars. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating in front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including Front Assist, Side Assist, and an Automatic Post Collision Braking System. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and refined, with Travel Assist providing semi-autonomous driving assistance. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the Tiguan's driver's door unlatched during a side-impact test. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but this did not apply for 2023.