2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet appealing design, distinguishing itself from its competitors with a creased and symmetrical aesthetic. The refreshed 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 Highline R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with 20-inch wheels and a choice of five paint colours. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line featured a sophisticated cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, although the lower half's hard plastic hinted at its mass-market status. Standard features included heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with additional options like a panoramic sunroof available.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, showcased a more conservative design approach, reflecting its traditional customer base. However, over the years, Buick transitioned to an SUV-focused lineup, with the Enclave sitting atop its range. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior enhancements, including a new grille and unique styling for the Avenir trim. Inside, the Enclave featured a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample cargo space behind the third row. The Avenir trim, in particular, provided a touch of luxury with exclusive seat patterns and a split sunroof.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission paired with VW's 4Motion AWD system, which could distribute up to half of the power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, along with Offroad settings. Despite its 19 centimetres of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The suspension system provided a nimble and responsive driving experience, although the engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in slight turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was a focus, with an average of 9.5 L/100 km during testing.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave's AWD system was standard in Canada, and it boasted a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave excelled in providing a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and QuietTuning technology. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the driving experience with real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain delivered responsive acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave's cabin remained serene, even at wide-open throttle, offering a touch of personality.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact crossovers with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. The Highline R-Line trim offered leather-wrapped, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, along with excellent outward visibility. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults comfortably. The Tiguan's cargo space ranked among the best in its class, with 1,064 litres of luggage volume behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 2,078 litres in the two-row configuration. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard posed usability challenges.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. The Enclave's cabin provided ample space for passengers in all three rows, with standard eight-way power driver seats and tri-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, which accommodated six-footers comfortably. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, although concerns arose about potential spills affecting the electronic shifter components. The Enclave's cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row and a maximum of 2,758 litres with all seats folded.

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, available on most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and smartphone mirroring. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition system proved disappointing during testing. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering an 8-inch version. The Essence trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Enclave also offered advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard safety features such as Front Assist and Side Assist. The Travel Assist system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, although the touch-sensing controls posed usability challenges. Emergency Assist was another important upgrade, bringing the Tiguan to a safe stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's standard LED headlights and driver aids aimed to improve that score.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This package included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.