2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of luxury and style, drawing inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that elegantly curved from behind the rear window, giving it a coupe-like appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and impeccable fit and finish. The interior design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that seamlessly rose from the dash. The GV70's dash featured a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a tactile experience superior to touch capacitive controls found in some luxury competitors.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained a more conservative yet graceful design, following updates from the previous year. It was available in several trims, including the sportier R-Line versions. The Tiguan offered a range of exterior and interior colour options, though choices were limited by trim level. Our test vehicle, in Atlantic Blue with Storm Grey leather seats, showcased a warm and inviting interior. The Tiguan's cabin, while not as luxurious as the GV70, was upscale with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and soft-touch materials. The Highline R-Line trim added sporty elements like 20-inch wheels and adaptive front lighting, enhancing its overall appeal.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrains: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The GV70's turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 excelled in blending comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70, with its 77.4-kWh battery and dual electric motors, produced 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower. It offered a range of 383 kilometres and featured DC fast charging capabilities.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Tiguan came standard with VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, offering various driving modes for different conditions. The Tiguan's turbo-four provided adequate power for everyday driving, though it lacked the punch for quick overtakes. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and a compliant ride. The Tiguan's road noise communicated road texture, and its variable-assist steering made it nimble and easy to park.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate and a well-designed interior with ample storage options. The front seats were comfortable and easy to adjust, though rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with certain configurations offering a standard third-row seat. Our test vehicle featured comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The Tiguan's dashboard, however, had questionable ergonomics, with touch-sensing controls that were difficult to use. Despite this, the Tiguan's rear seat offered generous legroom, headroom, and foot room, with air conditioning vents, cupholders, and a USB charging port. The cargo area was cavernous, accommodating full-size suitcases and featuring an adjustable load floor height. With AWD, the Tiguan offered 1,064 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,078 litres with the seats folded.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Available features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came with digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims featuring a larger 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system varied by trim, with lower trims having a 6.5-inch touchscreen and higher trims an 8-inch touchscreen. The system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system underperformed, often lacking a data connection.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with lane-keeping assist. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and unobtrusive, though its crash-test ratings were incomplete at the time of review.