2022 GMC Yukon vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. While some might have found its understated styling boring, the design was expected to age well. The Tiguan was notably large for its class, nearly matching the interior space of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. This second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor by adding a long-wheelbase version, making it roomy and accommodating for up to seven passengers, though the third row was best suited for children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had more hard plastic than an Audi. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding destination charges.

The 2022 GMC Yukon, especially in its Denali trim, was a chrome lover's dream, with a front end dominated by a vast, multi-dimensional grille. The Denali's unique look and commanding presence were enhanced by 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels and C-shaped headlights. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim had its own distinct styling with a dark grille, skid plate, and red recovery hooks. Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The Denali trim featured four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle showcasing the Teak/Light Shale color combo. The AT4 had a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents. The Yukon provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with the Denali offering heated and cooled front seats.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD available for an additional $1,400 on most models. While the powertrain was adequate, it suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though our AWD test model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling. However, it struggled over sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine choices, including a 3.0-liter turbodiesel. The standard 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the Denali's 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 pound-feet. The turbodiesel, available on all trims except the AT4, generated 277 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a 648-mile range on a tank. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD optional. The AT4 trim featured a two-speed transfer case and a front skid plate for off-road capability. The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and Max Trailering Package. Our Denali test vehicle, equipped with the 6.2-liter V8, had an 8,200-pound tow rating and provided more than adequate power. The redesigned Yukon featured independent rear suspension, improving handling and ride quality, though some bouncing was noted over rutted pavement. The optional air ride adaptive suspension enhanced the ride, especially on highways.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control added to the comfort. The back seat offered excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo configurations, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the presence of the third-row seat. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 GMC Yukon provided ample space across all three rows, with the redesign significantly improving third-row legroom from 24.8 inches to 34.9 inches. Cargo space behind the third row increased to 25.5 cubic feet. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. Our test Yukon featured power-folding second-row buckets and power fold-flat third-row seats. The Denali trim included a power-sliding center console with hidden storage, and power-retractable, illuminated assist steps. The pushbutton transmission controls, located to the left of the infotainment touchscreen, took some getting used to but eventually became second nature.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line trim offered a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Both the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim included a 15-inch multi-color head-up display, the largest in its class, offering driving speed, speed limit, audio information, and safety aids. The Yukon's 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system featured Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, wireless phone charging, and an available WiFi hotspot. Our test vehicle had a Bose 14-speaker audio system, which was adequate but not exceptional. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens, compatible with various media formats.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available starting with the SE trim, and the SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 GMC Yukon featured the Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Our test Yukon included a Safety Alert Seat and an adjustable rear camera mirror. The NHTSA awarded the Yukon an overall rating of four out of five stars, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.