2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet timeless design, distinguishing itself from its often less aesthetically pleasing competitors. Its refreshed front 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 all-wheel drive, 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 on higher trims.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E embraced a bold design, merging Mustang styling cues with a five-door crossover SUV form. Despite initial skepticism, this approach proved successful, with the Mach-E's design elements like scowling headlights and tri-bar taillights contributing to its popularity. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive styling, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel. Inside, the Mach-E GT offered a luxurious experience with artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance created by metallic and gloss-black trim. The cabin featured two rectangular display screens, enhancing its sporty and upscale feel. The Mach-E GT seamlessly blended past and future elements, offering a compelling package in the electric vehicle market.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, directing it to the 4Motion AWD system, which could decouple the rear axle to save fuel. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, along with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. Despite its enjoyable drive, the Tiguan's engine exhibited some turbo lag, and its fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Tiguan's ride and handling were satisfactory for everyday driving, though it lacked the excitement sought by performance enthusiasts.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrain options, with the GT Performance Edition featuring an extended-range battery and AWD layout. This configuration delivered an impressive 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, achieving 100 kilometres per hour in just 3.7 seconds. The Mach-E GT provided a driving range of 418 kilometres, with driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled modifying its behaviour. The GT's performance was exhilarating, though its steering lacked the sharpness expected from a performance vehicle. The Mach-E GT's brakes offered consistent performance, and its ride quality, while firm, was well-controlled. The Mach-E GT demonstrated efficiency, achieving 22.9 kWh per 100 kilometres during testing, surpassing official estimates.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact SUVs with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered an optional third row, though this compromised cargo space. The Highline R-Line trim provided comfort with leather-wrapped, power-adjustable front seats and excellent outward visibility. The second row was roomy, accommodating adults and children alike. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,078 litres available in the two-row configuration.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E combined form and function, offering seating for five and 965 litres of cargo space, including a front trunk. The GT Performance Edition featured performance seats with unique upholstery and a well-designed centre console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed sufficient legroom and a panoramic glass roof. The Mach-E provided 841 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,691 litres with the seats folded. The front trunk added 133 litres of additional storage, designed for easy cleaning.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital gauges, with the Highline R-Line offering a more advanced 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 premium Fender audio system. However, the natural voice recognition system was disappointing, and the Park Assist system was standard on the Highline R-Line.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E boasted a 15.5-inch touchscreen running on the Sync 4A platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and a navigation system. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked a radio tuning knob and a dedicated driving mode button. The Mach-E's Bang & Olufsen sound system delivered excellent audio quality, and the digital instrumentation display provided essential information. The Mach-E also featured Phone As A Key technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard safety features like Front Assist and Side Assist. It also offered Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely stop the vehicle 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 this score.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E included Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology, with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving was available, offering features like lane-change and predictive speed assist. The Mach-E received top safety ratings from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022 and 2023. However, NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2023 model were incomplete at the time of review.