2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan had a design that some might have found boring, but its clean lines and balanced proportions offered a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, providing a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and the option to carry five or even seven with a small third-row seat. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had some hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks. The Tiguan came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, especially in the Wilderness trim, emphasized function over form with a rugged and practical design. It featured a suspension lift, higher ride height, and massive protective cladding, making it look like a raccoon on wheels. Inside, the Forester had a functional cabin with hard plastic and soft surfaces, copper-colored stitching, and an 8-inch Starlink infotainment system. The Wilderness trim included water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, all-weather floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. The Forester's interior was designed for ease of use, with intuitive controls and a focus on practicality.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and 4Motion AWD as a $1,400 option. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's fuel economy was 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but real-world testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard AWD, with the Wilderness model featuring a design that increased initial torque supply by 25% and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Forester's fuel economy was 26 mpg combined, with real-world testing showing 25.9 mpg. The Forester's driving dynamics were pleasing, with a long-travel suspension that absorbed bumps and breaks, and the Wilderness trim excelled in off-road conditions. However, the engine felt sluggish at higher altitudes, and the CVT's eight programmed ratios provided a lively response.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a comfortable interior with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of adjustments for the front seats. The back seat provided excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality with easy entry and exit, tall seating hip points, and a practical interior. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats and a rubber cargo mat. The Forester had upgraded roof rails with integrated tie-down locations, accommodating a three-person roof tent. The back seat provided comfort for two adults, with rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, with a maximum capacity of 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof).

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system had some quirks, and the Fender premium audio system was only available on the SEL Premium R-Line.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. The Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and the Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera and the PIN Code Access feature for outdoor activities.

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

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system with a wider field of vision and new Automatic Emergency Steering. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also had a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Touring trim featured DriverFocus facial recognition technology. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.