2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet timeless design, distinguishing itself from its often less aesthetically pleasing competitors. Its refreshed exterior featured a new front styling that aligned with Volkswagen’s larger models, such as the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The restyled grille, adorned with the new VW logo and an optional illuminated grille bar, added a touch of modernity. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels further enhanced its appeal. In Canada, the Tiguan was available in four trim levels, all equipped with standard 4Motion all-wheel drive, with prices ranging 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 perforated 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 2023 Ford Escape, meanwhile, embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford’s lineup, the Escape offered a range of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top trim. Despite not being rugged, the Escape’s sleek design, 19-inch wheels, and body-colour mirror caps gave it an upscale appearance. Inside, the ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat allowed for easy customization. The interior was dominated by plastic, with some areas feeling scratchy and poorly reinforced, but the overall design was practical and comfortable for long drives.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the 4Motion AWD system, which could send up to half of the power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, along with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. Despite its 19 centimetres of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The MacPherson struts in front and multi-link independent rear suspension provided a nimble and responsive driving experience, though the engine’s torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in momentary turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was a focus, with an average of 9.5 L/100 km during testing.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the four-cylinder provided impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness of some competitors. The Escape’s suspension was a blessing on rough roads, providing a comfortable ride.

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, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults and children alike. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added sophistication but proved challenging to use. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating and excellent ergonomics, with well-positioned armrests and convenient cupholders. The head-up display was easy to adjust for different drivers. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders, with up to 1,851 litres available with the second row folded. Passenger space was slightly less than some competitors, but the back seat’s headroom and padded front-seat backs maximized space for tall passengers.

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. The Park Assist system, standard on the Highline R-Line, could autonomously steer the SUV into parking spaces.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. The system was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob’s placement was inconvenient, but the overall feature set and layout were impressive. A Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, along with available Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, while Emergency Assist could bring the SUV 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 safety further.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. The IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology for a semi-autonomous driving experience.