2022 Porsche Macan vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet timeless design, characterized by its creased and symmetrical lines. This approach, while not overly emotive, appealed to those who appreciated simplicity and minimalism. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger models, featuring a restyled grille with the new VW logo and standard LED headlights. The SUV offered a range of trims in Canada, all equipped with 4Motion AWD, and prices varied 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, including the striking Atlantic Blue Metallic. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line featured a luxurious cabin with leather upholstery, advanced technology, and ambient lighting, though the lower half's hard plastic hinted at its mass-market status.

In contrast, the 2022 Porsche Macan maintained its sporty and athletic appearance, with a sloping hood, swollen haunches, and a rakish roofline. The Macan S test vehicle, adorned in Volcano Gray with 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, exemplified Porsche's tradition of graceful aging. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsche models, featuring a left-side ignition switch, a large tachometer, and a flat dashboard. The cabin, with its red leather and metallic accents, exuded an upscale and purposeful vibe. The redesigned centre console with haptic touch controls added a modern touch, though it required some adjustment for ease of use.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and 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 modest power, the Tiguan delivered a nimble and responsive driving experience, though it exhibited some turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was a focus, with an average of 9.5 L/100 km during testing. The Tiguan's ride and handling were satisfactory for everyday driving, but it lacked the excitement sought by performance enthusiasts.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, on the other hand, offered a range of powerful engines. The base Macan and Macan T featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 261 horsepower, while the Macan GTS boasted a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with 434 horsepower. The Macan S, equipped with a 375-horsepower twin-turbo V6, accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package. All Macans came with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and AWD. The Macan S excelled in performance, offering precise handling and a thrilling driving experience. The optional performance upgrades, including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes, enhanced its capabilities. Despite its sporty nature, the Macan S maintained comfort for daily driving, though its fuel consumption was higher at 13.0 L/100 km.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact SUVs 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. The Tiguan's cargo space was impressive, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard posed usability challenges.

In contrast, the 2022 Porsche Macan prioritized driver and front-seat passenger comfort, with optional 14-way power-adjustable seats. The rear seats, though cramped, were accessible and supportive. The Macan's new steering wheel, inspired by the 911, felt less comfortable over long drives. The redesigned centre console with haptic touch controls offered a modern look but required attention to operate. Cargo space was limited, with 488 litres behind the rear seats and 1,503 litres with the seats 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, available on most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, 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, and users were encouraged to rely on smartphone integration.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came equipped with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, navigation, and connected services. The standard 10-speaker sound system could be upgraded to a Bose or Burmester audio system. While the user experience was generally intuitive, the voice recognition system lagged behind competitors. Fortunately, the Macan offered physical controls for frequently used features, reducing reliance on the touchscreen.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan offered standard safety features such as Front Assist and Side Assist. Notable upgrades included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, and Emergency Assist, which 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 enhancements aimed to improve this score.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included standard lane-departure warning and a reversing camera. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Macan excelled in parking assistance, offering a surround-view camera and Park Assist. However, it lacked more advanced driving assistance technologies found in other models. Safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not available for the Macan.