2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform, offering a long-wheelbase model in North America with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front design featured a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals, creating a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, with a silver D-pillar that gave the Tucson a floating roof appearance. At the rear, the Tucson boasted toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, contributing to its standout design among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior was well-appointed, with stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, sport combination seats in the N-Line, and leather-trimmed seats available from the Preferred Trend trim. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered aesthetic added to the sense of spaciousness.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following updates in the previous model year, remained largely unchanged. It was available in various trims, including the sportier R-Line versions. The Tiguan offered a range of exterior and interior colour options, alloy wheel designs, and upholstery choices, though these were limited by trim level. The test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, with standard equipment including keyless entry, remote start, and an 8-way power driver's seat. The Highline R-Line trim stood out for its sporty appearance, 20-inch machined-finish wheels, and adaptive front lighting. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin exuded an upscale feel with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite some materials reminding of its mid-$30,000s base price, the Tiguan's construction felt solid and well-assembled.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain variants: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly inspiring, it was competent and efficient, with a targeted fuel consumption of 8.2 L/100 km combined for FWD and 9.0 L/100 km for AWD. The hybrid powertrain delivered 226 combined horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful and enjoyable to drive. The Tucson Hybrid was notably more fuel-efficient, with a combined rating of 6.4 L/100 km. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque, and an anticipated electric range of around 40 kilometres.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Tiguan came standard with VW's 4Motion AWD system, offering various driving modes for different conditions. The Tiguan's fuel economy was estimated at 9.8 L/100 km combined, though testing showed 10.4 L/100 km. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, but higher revs revealed a lack of motive force. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and a compliant ride. Road noise was present, but the Tiguan offered excellent outward visibility and nimble manoeuvrability.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, a budget-friendly compact SUV, offered a well-appointed interior comparable to its competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings available. The Tucson's new platform provided more passenger and cargo space, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four, with a 1,095-litre cargo space comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with certain configurations including a standard third-row seat. The test vehicle featured comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard, however, had questionable ergonomics, with touch-sensing controls that hampered usability. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with generous legroom, headroom, and foot room in the rear. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area with an adjustable load floor and handy features like levers for folding seats. With AWD, the Tiguan offered 1,064 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,078 litres behind the front seats, comparable to some midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and Blue Link mobile app compatibility. The touchpoints on the larger screen were responsive, though the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims offering a larger 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system included a touchscreen display, with lower trims having a 6.5-inch screen and higher trims an 8-inch screen. The top-of-line test vehicle boasted features like Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface introduced unnecessary complexity, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system underperformed, often lacking a data connection.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Additional safety features were available, such as blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. Hyundai offered a 5-year/100,000-kilometre limited warranty.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and semi-autonomous driving assist. The Tiguan's safety technology worked effectively, though NHTSA testing was incomplete, and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating did not apply for 2023.