2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following its 2022 updates, remained largely unchanged. In Canada, it was available in Trendline, Comfortline, Comfortline R-Line Black, and Highline R-Line trims, with the R-Line versions offering sportier styling. Prices ranged from $36,675 to $47,175, plus a $2,050 destination charge. The U.S. specification test vehicle was similar to the Canadian Highline R-Line trim. Despite offering six exterior colours, four interior colours, four alloy wheel designs, and three upholstery types, choices were limited by trim level, complicating the selection of a preferred combination. The test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, a combination unavailable in Canada unless opting for the Highline R-Line trim. Standard features included keyless entry with remote start and an 8-way power driver’s seat. The Highline R-Line trim was favoured for its sporty look and 20-inch machined-finish wheels, with adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its appeal. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, soft-touch materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof, all contributing to a solidly assembled feel.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colours were introduced, and the rear VW logo was illuminated. While distinct as an EV, the ID.4 lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, similar to other electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Based on VW’s MEB platform, the ID.4 shared modularity with various models, including the upcoming ID.Buzz electric van. The interior retained the quality of recent VW gasoline models, featuring a minimalist design. The base ID.4 model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, was not a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro AWD. Standard leatherette upholstery included recycled fibres, maintaining a sense of quality.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system was standard, with driving modes including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The AWD system offered Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings, varying power distribution between the front and rear wheels. The Tiguan R-Line trims averaged a fuel economy of 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though testing showed 10.4 L/100 km. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, but higher revs revealed limited motive force. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan offered rewarding dynamic qualities, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and light, lively steering. The ride was compliant, balancing road feel with comfort. Road noise was present, and an odd resonance was noted on a familiar test route. Visibility was excellent, aided by thin windshield pillars and variable-assist steering, making the Tiguan nimble and easy to park.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base model with RWD, while the Pro model retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while AWD models increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 109 kilograms, enhancing acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 felt spritely, though more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery version. The AWD ID.4 rivalled hot hatchbacks in acceleration but allowed too much body roll for entertaining handling on twisty roads. Regenerative braking was present, but VW did not pursue one-pedal driving, offering a more familiar experience for first-time EV drivers.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was a roomy and affordable SUV, with certain configurations offering a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, so opting for a two-row model provided one of the largest cargo areas in the compact SUV class. The test vehicle featured comfortable front seats with leather upholstery, eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. Storage space was generous, though the centre armrest bin was small. The dashboard had questionable ergonomics, with touch-sensing controls in gloss black plastic hampering usability. The Climatronic Touch climate control panel was poorly positioned, and touch-sensing steering-wheel controls were difficult to discern. Despite these issues, the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area with adjustable load floor height and handy features for folding seats and hanging grocery bags. With AWD, the Tiguan offered 1,064 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 2,078 litres behind the front seats.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with greater front-seat and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It provided 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with the seats folded, surpassing most entry-level EVs. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most practical SUV among affordable EVs. The ID.4 also offered towing capability, with RWD models towing up to 1,000 kilograms and AWD models up to 1,225 kg. Interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the centre console and improved phone storage. Three-zone climate control was available, with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with R-Line trims offering a larger 10.25-inch display. The display impressed with its full-panel navigation map and headlight warning system. The dashboard housed a touchscreen display, with lower trims having a 6.5-inch screen and others an 8-inch touchscreen. The top-of-line test vehicle included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, Car-Net connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the infotainment system's user experience was complicated by sub-menus and multi-step processes. The navigation map could not display simultaneously on the digital instrumentation and centre touchscreen. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions, making it less useful for climate control adjustments.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. Software updates improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The user interface retained sharp graphics and offered smartphone-like icons or a traditional split-screen view. Natural-language voice recognition was effective for simple commands. However, haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel replaced conventional buttons, lacking physical feedback and causing distraction. The voice recognition system mitigated this issue, making it easier to adjust settings verbally. The ID.Light feature, part ambient lighting and part AI assistant, changed colours based on drive mode and provided navigation cues, though it was easily overlooked.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features and driver assistance technologies, offering tech often found in luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking, as well as Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System helped avoid secondary impacts. The IQ.Drive package, standard on most models, added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist for semi-autonomous driving. Emergency Assist detected unresponsive drivers and brought the vehicle to a safe stop. Additional features included Light Assist, Park Assist, parking sensors, and an Area View camera system. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and unobtrusive. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during side-impact tests. The 2022 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, but this did not apply to 2023.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ rating, with top scores in crash tests and front crash prevention, though the standard headlights received an "Average" score. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and Travel Assist 2.0. Emergency Assist 3.0 was also standard, automatically pulling the vehicle over if the driver was incapacitated. For 2023, the ID.4 added Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.