2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a refined and conservative design, distinguishing itself from its more ostentatious competitors. Its 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'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 prices ranged from $33,395 to $43,395. The Highline R-Line trim, with its sportier look and available Atlantic Blue Metallic paint, offered a sophisticated appearance with 20-inch wheels as standard.

Inside, the Tiguan Highline R-Line boasted a luxurious cabin with perforated leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting with 30 colour options. The interior featured metallic accents, though 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 with push-button start. The updated Tiguan maintained its appealing design while adding new features to keep it fresh until a future redesign.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner, particularly in its 40th Anniversary Special Edition (40 ASE), embraced a retro aesthetic with body stripes, a heritage grille, and bronze accents. Based on the SR5 trim, the 40 ASE added $3,330 to the price, offering unique styling elements and a numbered plaque. The 4Runner lineup included several trims, with prices ranging from $51,050 to $66,220. The 4Runner's design paid homage to truck-based SUVs of the past, with a solid and purposeful interior. Despite its plastic components, the cabin felt durable, and the controls were user-friendly, even with gloves on.

The 4Runner's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like a locking rear differential, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The TRD Sport and Limited trims focused on on-road performance, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro offered enhancements for off-road adventures. The 4Runner excelled in challenging conditions, providing a sense of invincibility, though it required careful handling on slippery surfaces. Its powertrain delivered steady performance, but the SUV's dynamics revealed its truck-based nature, making it more suited for off-road environments.

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 paired with VW's 4Motion AWD system, which could send up to 50% of 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 suspension and steering provided a nimble and responsive feel, though the engine's torque delivery resulted in some turbo lag. Fuel efficiency was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres, with a test drive averaging 9.5 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission powered the standard 4WD system, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The 4Runner offered part-time and full-time 4WD systems, with a fuel economy rating of 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The 4Runner excelled in off-road conditions, with 24.4 centimetres of ground clearance and technologies like Active Traction Control and Multi-Terrain Select. The TRD trims provided specific enhancements for various driving conditions, and the 4Runner's powertrain performed well in elevation changes. However, its truck-based construction affected its on-road dynamics, making it more suitable for off-road adventures.

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, excellent visibility, and a panoramic sunroof. The second row provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating adults and children alike. The Tiguan's cargo space was generous, with 1,064 litres behind the second row and a maximum of 2,078 litres with seats folded. However, the optional third row compromised cargo capacity, offering just 339 litres behind it.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a unique rear window that powered down into the tailgate, enhancing ventilation. The 40 ASE trim included SofTex artificial leather seats, while the Limited offered ventilated leather seats. The 4Runner's second row was roomy, with good legroom and comfort, though the optional third row was cramped and reduced cargo space. Without the third row, the 4Runner provided 1,337 litres of cargo space, with additional storage cubbies and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area.

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, Car-Net connected services, and smartphone mirroring. The Highline R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender audio system. However, the MIB3's voice recognition was disappointing, and the Park Assist system was standard on the Highline R-Line.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner offered traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio, with available navigation and a JBL premium sound system. The infotainment system's home screen displayed multiple functions, and the voice recognition performed well, though it had limitations with certain commands.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist, 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 was 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 Toyota 4Runner included standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims. The 4Runner's adaptive cruise control performed well, though its lane-departure warning could be annoying. The NHTSA gave the 4Runner a four-star overall rating, with three-star ratings for front passenger protection and rollover resistance.