2023 Kia Sportage 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 exterior featured new front styling that aligned with Volkswagen's larger models, such as the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The restyled grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels contributed to its sophisticated appearance. Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line boasted a luxurious cabin with leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and metallic accents, although the lower half's hard plastic hinted at its mass-market status. Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and keyless entry, enhancing its appeal.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a bold and exciting design, reminiscent of French automakers. Its standout features included boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, which added a touch of class. The Sportage offered five trim levels in Canada, with AWD standard on most. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, maintaining a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The cabin featured a large display, although some controls were overly complex. Despite these quirks, the Sportage's design and interior space made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and spacious compact crossover.

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, it offered a range of driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Tiguan's off-road capabilities were limited by its 19 centimetres of ground clearance, but it excelled in normal driving situations with nimble handling. However, the engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, resulting in slight turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was moderate, with a combined rating of 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres for R-Line grades.

The 2023 Kia Sportage introduced a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While more powerful than its predecessor, it lacked the punch of the previous turbocharged engine. The Sportage's fuel economy was slightly better, with ratings of 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.4 combined for FWD models. The X-Line trim added rugged visual cues but no additional off-road features. Despite this, the Sportage handled off-road challenges well, thanks to its 21 centimetres of ground clearance on AWD models.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among compact crossovers with its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered an optional third row, though cargo space was compromised with it in use. The two-row configuration provided 1,064 litres of luggage volume, expanding to 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. The Tiguan's interior featured comfortable leather seats with power adjustments and excellent visibility. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, now larger than its predecessor, offered impressive interior space. Rear-seat legroom measured 1,050 mm, with 966 mm of headroom, and the trunk accommodated 1,121 litres of cargo. Folding the rear seats expanded capacity to 2,098 litres. The Sportage's front seats provided ample storage, and a panoramic sunroof was available. However, the touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating to use, complicating basic functions.

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, smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker 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 Kia Sportage impressed with its 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system on EX-and-up trims, paired with a digital instrument cluster on the X-Line Limited. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were wired on the top interface, despite a wireless charger. The base LX trim offered wireless CarPlay and Android Auto with an 8-inch screen. The Sportage included Bluetooth, keyless entry, and a Harman Kardon audio system on the X-Line Limited.

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 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 LED headlights and driver aids aimed to improve that score.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a backup camera. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The X-Line Limited included advanced features like a blind-view monitor and highway driving assist. However, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.