2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet timeless design, characterized by its creased and symmetrical styling. The refreshed front end 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, with its sportier look and available 18-inch alloy wheels, stood out in Atlantic Blue Metallic. Inside, the Tiguan boasted a sophisticated cabin with leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, 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 Chevrolet Equinox underwent subtle styling changes, including a new grille, LED headlights, and a sleeker look with trim pieces bisecting the headlights. It maintained a car-based crossover appearance, avoiding the rugged styling of some competitors. The Equinox's dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents, and materials were decent for its price range. The RS model added black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and a subdued black interior. While the exterior trim added personality, the interior felt too subdued. Overall, the Equinox offered a tall seating position and decent visibility, though rear visibility was slightly hampered by the small rear window.

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 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 centimetres of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The suspension and steering provided a nimble feel in normal driving, though pushing the Tiguan revealed limitations in tires and suspension. Fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 L/100 km in combined driving, with a test drive averaging 9.5 L/100 km.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered a single powertrain option: a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD available. The Equinox's torque was advantageous in city driving, but the engine felt coarse at higher speeds, and the transmission's shifts were rough. Despite its RS trim, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling, lacking the refinement of some competitors. It was comfortable on rough roads but didn't match the solidity of rivals like the Honda CR-V.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact crossovers with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered an optional third row, though cargo space was compromised with it in use. The Highline R-Line trim provided comfortable leather seats with power adjustments and excellent visibility. The second row was roomy, accommodating adults and children alike. Touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added sophistication but were harder to use. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox provided seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and legroom. However, some competitors offered more front legroom, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made finding a comfortable driving position challenging. The Equinox's tall seating position offered good forward visibility, though rear visibility was slightly hindered. The climate control buttons were prominently placed, and keyless entry and start were standard. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 847 litres behind the rear seats and 1,809 litres with them folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The MIB3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, was standard on most trims, offering smartphone mirroring and SiriusXM. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender audio system. However, the voice recognition system was disappointing. The Tiguan also offered Park Assist, standard on the Highline R-Line.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. Higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. The MyLink system was user-friendly, with large menu icons and good graphics. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a highlight, though the centre-console slot for phones was too small. The system covered the basics well, despite lacking some advanced features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard Front Assist and Side Assist, with available Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring, though touch-sensing controls made it tricky to engage. Emergency Assist could bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's improvements could enhance its score.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it rated "Marginal" in the updated side crash test. It earned "Superior" for vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention and "Advanced" for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system.