2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus was an attractive SUV, boasting a design that was neither awkward nor plain. Lincoln added enough detailing to ensure the Nautilus had plenty of character, making it stand out without being overly flashy. Approaching the SUV after dark, drivers were greeted by a Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence, adding a touch of elegance. The interior of our test vehicle featured light grey premium leather upholstery, with other options like sandstone, dark brown, and black available. Despite its overall decadent feel, some elements like the centre console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces appeared a bit cheap.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan continued mostly unchanged from its previous model year, offering a range of trims in Canada, including Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line. The Tiguan's exterior came in six colours, with four interior colours and four different alloy wheel designs. However, choices were restricted based on the trim level, making it challenging to find the perfect combination. Our test vehicle arrived in Atlantic Blue with Storm Grey leather seats, a combination not available in Canada unless ordered in the Highline R-Line trim. The Tiguan's design was conservatively drawn, aging gracefully, and the Highline R-Line trim added a sporty appearance with sizable 20-inch machined-finish wheels.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive in Canada. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine was available, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque for an additional $4,000. The Nautilus offered Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behaviour, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. The twin-turbo V6 had a fuel consumption rating of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a maximum range of 730 kilometres on the highway. Over 1,400 kilometres, it averaged 9.4 L/100 km. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, offering a quiet and comfortable ride with a 19-speaker Revel audio system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel-drive in Canada. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with an Individual mode for dynamic settings. The Tiguan's fuel economy was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but our testing loop returned 10.4 L/100 km. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but lacked motive force at higher engine revs, and the automatic transmission occasionally stumbled. Despite this, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip and a stable, predictable feel. The ride and handling mix provided a compliant ride without unwanted body motions.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with optional 22-way power adjustments and massage programs. Rear passengers enjoyed heated outboard seats and air conditioning vents, though legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. The Nautilus provided 1,055 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,948 litres with the back seat folded. However, practical storage space was limited, with some locations hard to access.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with certain configurations offering a standard third-row seat. Our test vehicle had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a drawback, with questionable ergonomics and distracting usability. The Tiguan's rear seat offered generous legroom, headroom, and foot room, with air conditioning vents, cupholders, and a USB charging port. The cargo area was cavernous, accommodating full-size suitcases and offering adjustable load floor height and handy levers for folding seats. With AWD, the Tiguan held 1,064 litres of cargo behind the second row and 2,078 litres behind the front seats.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. It offered over-the-air updates, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Our test vehicle included a connected navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system's intuitive user interface and natural voice recognition were highlights, and the Revel speakers delivered excellent sound quality. The Phone as a Key feature allowed smartphones to unlock and start the Nautilus.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan had digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims featuring a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system offered Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, Car-Net connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions. The Tiguan's technology introduced unnecessary complexity and distraction, detracting from the overall experience.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and rear parking sensors. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology worked effectively, with Travel Assist providing semi-autonomous driving assist. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022 did not apply for 2023.