2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a refined and conservative design that stood out among its competitors. Its symmetrical and creased exterior, while not overly emotional, was appreciated for its simplicity and minimalism, promising to age gracefully. The updated front styling aligned it with Volkswagen's larger models, featuring a restyled grille with the new VW logo and standard LED headlights. The Tiguan offered four trim levels in Canada, all with standard 4Motion AWD, and prices ranged from $33,395 to $43,395. The R-Line models boasted a sportier look, with the Highline R-Line featuring 20-inch wheels and a choice of five paint colours, including the striking Atlantic Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line offered a luxurious cabin with perforated leather upholstery, advanced technology, and ambient lighting with 30 colour options. The interior was adorned with metallic accents, though the lower half's hard plastic hinted at its mass-market status. Standard features included heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with keyless entry and remote engine starting available from the Comfortline trim. The 2022 Tiguan maintained its appealing aesthetics while adding new features to keep it fresh until a future redesign.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX retained its decade-old body shell with minor updates over the years. The spindle grille, updated in 2020, and triple-beam LED headlights gave it a distinctive and aggressive look. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent, appealing to SUV shoppers seeking a tough appearance. However, the interior fell short of modern luxury standards, with wood trim resembling plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. The semi-aniline leather was standard, but the overall interior experience felt dated compared to contemporary luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan continued with its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission paired with VW's 4Motion AWD system, which could decouple the rear axle to save fuel. Drivers could choose from Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings. The Tiguan's Hill Descent Control engaged in Offroad mode, but its 19 cm ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The suspension and steering provided a nimble and responsive feel, though the engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in slight turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was decent, with a combined rating of 9.8 L/100 km.

The 2021 Lexus GX featured a 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 2,349 kg weight affected its performance, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. Stopping the SUV also demanded more effort, and its body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen centre differential, low-range 4WD, and features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select. It offered 20.5 cm of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles, though the Land Rover Discovery surpassed it in some metrics. The GX's towing capacity was 2,948 kg, with trailer-sway control included.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact crossovers with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. The Highline R-Line trim offered comfortable leather seats with power adjustments, excellent visibility, and a panoramic sunroof. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults and children alike. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use. Cargo space was generous, with 1,064 litres behind the second row and a maximum of 2,078 litres with seats folded.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior reflected its age, with limited legroom due to the upright dashboard and high centre console. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position felt bus-like. Visibility was excellent, but forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small cupholders and centre-console storage. The GX offered three rows of seating, but the third row was best for children, and accessing it was challenging. Cargo space was limited, with 1,833 litres available with seats folded, significantly less than the Discovery's capacity.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, provided connected services, smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM radio. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender audio system. However, the natural voice recognition system was disappointing, and users were advised to rely on smartphone integration. The Tiguan also offered Park Assist for autonomous parking.

The 2021 Lexus GX lacked modern tech features, with no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. It had two USB ports for the first two rows and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The infotainment system's graphics were outdated, and the interface was primitive. However, analog controls for various functions provided a refreshing alternative to touchscreen-centric systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, along with available Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. 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 earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's improvements aimed to enhance safety further.

The 2021 Lexus GX included the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, featuring a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, but the GX lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models.