2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a refined and conservative design, distinguishing itself from its competitors with a symmetrical and creased exterior that aged 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 Comfortline R-Line Black Edition offering a trendy blacked-out appearance. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line featured a luxurious cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin hinted at its mass-market status.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness pushed the boundaries of the traditional station wagon, offering a higher ride height and more aggressive all-terrain tires. It featured unique design elements like a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents. The interior was dominated by dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The Outback Wilderness provided generous rear seat space and a robust roof rack for rooftop camping. It was positioned as the entry point into the turbocharged Outback family, with pricing at $41,995 plus a destination charge of $1,875.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with 4Motion AWD, offering various driving modes including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Tiguan's ground clearance was 19 cm, limiting its off-road capabilities. The suspension system included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, providing a nimble and responsive driving experience. However, the engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in momentary turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 L/100 km in combined driving.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. It featured a CVT with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, though the transmission's droning detracted from the driving experience. The Outback Wilderness offered 23 cm of ground clearance and was equipped with all-terrain tires, making it highly capable off-road. It featured a dual function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control, allowing it to tackle challenging terrain. Fuel efficiency was rated at 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover, offering an optional third row and generous cargo space. The Highline R-Line trim featured leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was a notable change, though it could be challenging to use. Cargo space was impressive, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the rear seat provided generous head and legroom. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the rear seat folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system was available on all but the base trim, offering an 8-inch touchscreen, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Highline R-Line included a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition was disappointing, and the Park Assist system was standard on the Highline R-Line.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate control. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for some functions, most controls required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less responsive to natural commands, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available on other Outback trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard Front Assist and Side Assist safety features. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, though the touch-sensing controls could be challenging to use. Emergency Assist operated when Travel Assist was active, slowing the vehicle if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The EyeSight technology was effective and unobtrusive, though the beeping could be excessive. The 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.