2024 Acura MDX 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 prices ranging from $36,675 to $47,175, plus a $2,050 destination charge. The R-Line trims featured sportier styling. Despite offering six exterior colours, four interior colours, and various wheel designs, choices were limited by trim level, complicating the selection of a preferred combination. The U.S. specification test vehicle, similar to the Canadian Highline R-Line, featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Grey leather seats, a combination unavailable in Canada unless opting for the Highline R-Line. Standard features included keyless entry, remote start, and an 8-way power driver’s seat. The Highline R-Line stood out for its sporty appearance and 20-inch wheels, with adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the cabin was upscale, with quality leather, artificial wood trim, and digital instrumentation, though some materials reflected its mid-$30,000s base price.

The 2024 Acura MDX boasted a striking design with a large shield grille, rakish headlights, and modern bumper styling. Inside, it was high-tech but busy, with numerous controls on the centre console. Available trims in Canada included Tech, A-Spec, Platinum Elite, and the Type S Ultra, the latter being the U.S. equivalent test vehicle. Standard features included tri-zone climate control, push-button start, a panoramic moonroof, power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Ambient lighting varied by trim, with the Type S Ultra offering 25 positions. The MDX featured an on-board navigation system, a 12-speaker ELS Studio stereo, and leather upholstery. The A-Spec trim added sportier styling, a 16-speaker audio system, and ventilated front seats. The Type S Ultra included a 25-speaker sound system and massaging front seats, with firmer massage functions than other luxury SUVs, enhancing long-drive comfort.

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, offering Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes. The AWD system featured Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings, varying power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Fuel economy was rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres, though testing showed 10.4 L/100 km. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but lacked power at higher revs, with turbo lag from a stop. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled, but Sport mode improved responsiveness. The Tiguan excelled in dynamic qualities, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and stable handling. The ride was compliant, with minimal road noise, though an odd resonance was noted on certain roads. Visibility was excellent, aided by thin windshield pillars and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type S Ultra had a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The Type S Ultra offered strong acceleration, with quick throttle delivery and a comfortable ride. Brembo performance brakes and adaptive air suspension enhanced handling, with ride height adjustments in Sport mode. The Integrated Dynamics System included Sport+, Snow, Comfort, Normal, and Individual modes, with a Lift mode for increased ground clearance. The MDX excelled on highways, with a firm yet comfortable ride, responsive steering, and a tight turning radius. It had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with some configurations featuring a 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 had comfortable front seats with 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 that were difficult to use. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. Cargo capacity was 1,064 litres behind the second row and 2,078 litres with the seats folded, comparable to some midsize SUVs.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, with comfortable first and second rows, but a smaller third row suited for children. Cargo space was 512 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,367 litres with the rear seats folded, and 2,690 litres with both rows folded. The Type S Ultra had a second-row bench with a fold-down centre console and integrated cupholders. The centre console offered ample storage, though the centre stack of controls was cluttered. The shifter was a row of buttons, and the IDS dial was prominent, though not essential for most drivers.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on R-Line trims. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system had a touchscreen display, with a 6.5-inch screen on lower trims and an 8-inch screen on others. The system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, Car-Net services, SiriusXM, and a nine-speaker Fender sound system. However, the interface was complex, with multi-step processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system was unreliable, likely due to inactive subscriptions.

The 2024 Acura MDX had a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad, which was unintuitive. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The MDX had multiple USB ports, a digital instrument panel, and wireless charging. Charging ports were cleverly placed, but the infotainment system was a drawback. The touchpad required looking away from the road, making it less user-friendly than competitors like the Genesis GV80.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered comprehensive safety features, including Front Assist with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Side Assist added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System stopped the vehicle after a collision. The IQ.Drive package included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective, though crash-test ratings were incomplete. The IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but not for 2023.

The 2024 Acura MDX had a suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane keeping assist, driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. A surround-view camera and head-up display were available on higher trims. The 2022 MDX received a five-star NHTSA rating and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, with Superior crash-prevention scores. However, the infotainment system was a distraction.