2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet appealing design, distinguishing itself from its less attractive competitors. Its refreshed styling aligned it with Volkswagen's larger models, featuring a restyled grille with the new VW logo and standard LED headlights. The Tiguan's exterior was complemented by redesigned aluminum wheels and new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate. In Canada, the Tiguan was available in four trim levels, all with standard 4Motion AWD, and offered a range of paint colours, including the striking Atlantic Blue Metallic. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line boasted a sophisticated cabin with leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting, though the lower half's hard plastic betrayed its mass-market status. Standard features included heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with additional options like a panoramic sunroof available.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury but fell short in some areas. Its cabin, while spacious and intuitively laid out, featured materials more akin to a Buick or top-trim Chevy. The XT5 offered good headroom and legroom, with a panoramic sunroof enhancing the airy feel. Standard synthetic leather upholstery could be upgraded to genuine leather in higher trims. The XT5's cargo space was a strong point, with 850 litres available behind the second row. Cadillac retained physical controls for a more intuitive feel, though the cabin lacked the unique design elements found in some rivals. Despite these shortcomings, the XT5 provided a comfortable and practical interior.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD, the Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, along with Offroad settings. While the Tiguan's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in slight turbo lag, it delivered a pleasant driving experience once engaged. Fuel efficiency was a focus, with a combined rating of 9.8 L/100 km for R-Line models. The Tiguan's ride and handling were satisfactory for everyday driving, though it lacked excitement when pushed to its limits.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. An optional V6 engine offered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. While the XT5 handled decently on curvy roads, its ride quality suffered on rough surfaces, with noticeable cabin vibrations and noise. The XT5's performance lagged behind rivals like the Porsche Macan and BMW X3, and it lacked performance variants. Fuel economy for the turbo-four with FWD was rated at 9.7 L/100 km combined, while the V6 with AWD achieved 11.5 L/100 km combined.

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 and excellent visibility. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults and children alike. Cargo space was generous, with 1,064 litres behind the second row and a maximum of 2,078 litres with seats folded. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured a well-organized interior with useful storage spaces, though it used more hard plastics than expected. Front-seat ergonomics were good, with easy access to controls, while rear passengers had access to seatback pockets and cupholders. The XT5 offered 850 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 1,784 litres with seats folded. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made loading easy, though the cargo area's shape could limit larger items.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The MIB3 infotainment system, available on most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM radio. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender audio system. While the MIB3 system offered natural voice recognition, it was less effective than expected. The Tiguan also featured an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's CUE infotainment system provided an intuitive interface with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system could be controlled via a rotary controller, voice, or touchscreen. Cadillac retained physical buttons for climate and steering wheel controls, offering a user-friendly experience. The XT5 also featured a Bose premium audio system, wireless charging, and navigation. While not as advanced as some rivals, the CUE system was functional and not overly distracting.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard safety features like Front Assist and Side Assist. Available 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 improvements aimed to enhance its safety credentials.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and lane-keep assist. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and reverse automatic braking. The 2021 XT5 received top "Good" scores in crash tests but missed a Top Safety Pick award due to "Marginal" headlight performance. The XT5's car seat anchors were also noted for being near other hardware, potentially causing confusion.