2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, which some might have found boring, but it had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic that was likely to age well. It was large for its class, nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to a long-wheelbase version. The roomy interior could accommodate four people comfortably, with an optional third-row seat expanding capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the engine start button's location was unusual. The cabin had shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system, but it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, on the other hand, stretched the notion of being a station wagon, appearing closer to a Jeep with its 9.5 inches of ground clearance and aggressive all-terrain tires. It had a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal. The roof rack could support a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin was dark gray and black with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching, and all-weather floor mats. The modifications injected purpose and personality into the Outback's styling, making it stand out from standard versions.

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. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD as a $1,400 option on most models. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing or freeway merging. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. On curvy roads, the tires gave up grip early, and the suspension allowed too much body motion, encouraging slower driving. However, it was quiet and composed on the highway.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness had a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine gave the Wilderness a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA rated it at 24 mpg in combined driving, but testing showed an average of 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The CVT, with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, detracted from the driving experience with its droning and mushy simulated gear changes. The Outback Wilderness had standard AWD, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires, making it capable off-road. It had improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, a front skid plate, and a dual function X-Mode traction system. On pavement, it felt quick but restricted by its tires, while off-road, it proved capable and adept at climbing and descending steep hills.

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 system added to the comfort. The back seat offered excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, though storage space was limited. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space with deep wells. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering 10-way power adjustment and the front passenger seat 8-way power adjustment. The rear seat room was generous, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat, with waterproof material covering the seatbacks and a waterproof cargo tray. The roof rack had a 220-pound dynamic load rating and a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, with 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 quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The six-speaker sound system struggled with bass, while the SEL Premium R-Line had a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness had an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment and climate control system, with physical knobs for volume and tuning and buttons for temperature control and defogger systems. The voice recognition technology required learning proper prompts, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered superior voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims. The PIN code entry technology allowed access to the vehicle without the key fob, useful for active lifestyles.

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. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights. The adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to accelerate when traffic cleared. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent. The parking sensors were helpful but could be overly sensitive. The reversing camera provided a clear view, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The Wilderness also had steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot warning with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. The EyeSight technology was effective and not burdensome. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for 2021 and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 2021.