2022 Lexus NX vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was creased, folded, and symmetrical, leaning towards conservatism. This approach, while not eliciting strong emotional responses, aged well and appealed to fans of simplicity and minimalism. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger models, featuring a new grille with the updated VW logo and available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its appeal. The Tiguan lineup was simplified into S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, with 4Motion AWD and an accessory cargo cover, totaled $37,970 MSRP. The R-Line models had a sportier look, with the SE R-Line Black offering a trendy blacked-out appearance. The interior of the Tiguan SEL R-Line featured a richer-looking cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color choices. However, the hard plastic covering the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market brand status.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned and available in four model series (NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+), offered a more refined and simplified design. The NX was unmistakably a Lexus with its jutting spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The new model was longer, wider, and taller, providing more passenger and cargo space. Most NX models featured NuLuxe simulated leather, while the NX Luxury included real leather and open-pore wood trim. The NX 350 F Sport distinguished itself with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and black mirrors. Inside, sport-bolstered seats, a black headliner, and unique instrumentation with a G-force meter defined the sporty version. The interior design was minimalist, with many functions integrated into the available 14-inch touchscreen, which could be challenging to use quickly. Physical controls for frequently used functions remained, and the new electronic shifter was easy to acclimate to. Quality levels were generally high, but some elements, like the turn signal, felt inexpensive.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the front wheels, with an option for VW’s 4Motion AWD, which could send up to half the power to the rear wheels. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual driving modes, with 4Motion models adding Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. The Tiguan’s Hill Descent Control system operated at speeds up to 19 mph in Offroad mode, but with 7.6 inches of ground clearance, it was best suited for well-traveled paths. The suspension system included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with variable assist steering that adjusted based on speed. The engine’s torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. The Tiguan was enjoyable to drive once the torque kicked in, but it seemed like VW could extract more power from the engine. The EPA estimated 24 mpg in combined driving for the R-Line with 4Motion, and a short drive in Malibu, California, yielded a 24.7 mpg average. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving situations but lacked the fun factor when pushed hard.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h with a combined output of 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, available between 1,600 and 3,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters powered all four wheels, with AWD standard. The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, with FWD standard and AWD optional. Both the NX 250 and NX 350 offered Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, while the NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension and 20-inch wheels. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the NX 350, which seemed credible. Observed fuel economy was 22.2 mpg for the F Sport and 25.5 mpg for the Luxury, with Lexus estimating 25 mpg in combined driving for the NX 350. The new NX was a dynamic improvement over the previous model, but the turbocharged 2.4-liter engine didn’t sound as smooth as German rivals. Handling impressed in both versions, with the F Sport better isolating impacts from sharp bumps. Road and wind noise were more noticeable than expected, despite Lexus’s noise dampening efforts. The NX was not suitable for off-road use, with 7.7 inches of ground clearance and shallow approach and departure angles.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to compare to smaller midsize SUVs. Volkswagen installed a standard third-row seat in FWD models, but 4Motion models did not offer this feature. The SEL R-Line was exceptionally comfortable, with leather-wrapped front seats offering eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and decent storage. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard for 2022 looked sophisticated but was harder to use. Cargo space was among the best in the class, with FWD models offering 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The 4Motion model had 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, both figures in midsize SUV territory.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room for people and cargo, but it felt more intimate and cozy from the driver’s seat. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim offered better bolstering for the front seats, with padded areas for bracing legs in curves. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports. Practical storage space impressed in both rows, and the panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat. The NX Luxury trim featured a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes, though it wasn’t tested. The climate system and ventilated front seats performed well in triple-digit heat. Lexus claimed a 14% increase in cargo space, with 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the back seats folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with most versions using an 8-inch display and the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, introduced last year, carried over in all but the base Tiguan S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The MIB3 system had an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line included a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Natural voice recognition was a touted improvement, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. Car-Net’s Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, offering remote engine start, door lock operation, and location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan included automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, while the Hotspot plan provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking, standard on the SEL R-Line.

The 2022 Lexus NX took a significant leap forward with the new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The system featured large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, music streaming, and cloud-based features. A 9.8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 14-inch screen optional. Both versions included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and readiness for five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands, with a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect service. The NX also featured User Profiles for storing preferences and settings, digital key capability, and additional technologies like a digital mirror and a 10-inch head-up display. The new tech was impressive but had some drawbacks, such as fingerprint collection on the touchscreen and the lack of a tuning knob.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan included standard Front Assist (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection) and Side Assist (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert). The IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems added Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which slowed the SUV and brought it to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s new LED headlights and driver aids could improve that score.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) collection of technologies, with features like Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist technology. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.