2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both creased and symmetrical, leaning towards a conservative aesthetic. This approach, while not overly emotional, 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, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels. The SUV was available in 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, priced at $37,970, showcased a sportier look with Atlantic Blue Metallic paint and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer cabin with perforated leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. The interior featured metallic accents, though the lower half's hard plastic revealed its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats, with remote engine starting available from the SE trim. The updated Tiguan retained its great looks while adding extra flair, ensuring it remained fresh until a full redesign.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition (40 ASE) was based on the SR5 Premium trim, adding $4,505 to its price, with $1,875 covering the standard 4WD system. The remaining $2,630 included retro body stripes, a heritage grille, bronze 17-inch wheels, and various bronze badges and stitching. Available in black, white, or red paint with a black artificial leather interior, the 40 ASE had a strong SoCal vibe, reminiscent of 1970s aesthetics. The 4Runner lineup included multiple trims, with prices ranging from $39,555 to $54,020, plus a $1,335 destination charge. The 40 ASE test vehicle, priced at $48,455, featured a truck-based SUV design with enduring appeal.

The 4Runner's interior was purposeful, with plenty of plastic but a solid feel. The controls were easy to locate and use, even with gloves. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with features like Hill-Start Assist Control, Downhill Assist Control, and Active Traction Control. The TRD Sport and Limited trims offered improved on-road performance, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims enhanced off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the 4Runner was less suited for daily errands, with leisurely acceleration, heavy steering, and a sense of invincibility that required caution.

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 sent power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available. The AWD system could transfer up to half the power to the rear wheels, decoupling the rear axle when not needed to save fuel. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models. The Tiguan's Hill Descent Control operated at speeds up to 19 mph, but its 7.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities.

The Tiguan featured MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with 13.4-inch vented front discs and 11.8-inch solid rear discs. The variable assist steering lightened at low speeds and firmed up at highway speeds. The engine's torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, causing momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. Despite this, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, though it could benefit from more power. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, with a test drive averaging 24.7 mpg. The Tiguan felt nimble and responsive in normal driving but lacked outright fun when pushed.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission sent power to the rear wheels, with optional 4WD systems available. The 4Runner had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and an EPA fuel economy rating of 17 mpg in combined driving, with a test average of 16.9 mpg. The 4Runner offered a minimum of nine inches of ground clearance, Hill-Start Assist Control, and additional off-roading technologies like locking differentials, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select.

The 4Runner's TRD Sport and Limited trims improved on-road performance, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims enhanced off-road capabilities. The 4Runner excelled in off-road conditions, handling mud and water with ease. However, it was less suited for daily errands, with leisurely acceleration, heavy steering, and a sense of invincibility that required caution. The 4Runner's powertrain performed well on elevation gains, but its handling revealed limitations on curvy roads.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact crossover, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It featured a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though 4Motion models lacked this feature. The SEL R-Line test vehicle offered comfortable leather seats with 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 ample storage. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard was less user-friendly, causing potential distractions.

Cargo space was among the best in its 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 provided 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, comparable to midsize SUVs.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a power-down back window, sunroof, and automatic windows for an immersive driving experience. Climbing into the 4Runner required effort for shorter individuals, but the seats were comfortable. The 40 ASE test vehicle had SofTex artificial leather and heated front seats. The second-row seating area was roomy, with good legroom, headroom, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The optional third-row seat was uncomfortable and reduced cargo space, so it was best avoided.

The tailgate bumper doubled as a seat, with storage cubbies, trays, and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area. The optional sliding floor made loading and unloading heavy items easier. Without the third-row seat, the 4Runner offered 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet behind the front seats, substantial for a midsize SUV.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base Tiguan S, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition feature required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription.

Car-Net offered a complimentary Remote Access plan for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle 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.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner had traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Connected services plans were available with complimentary trial subscriptions, and the 4Runner could be transformed into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Upgrades included a navigation system, additional connected services, and a JBL premium sound system. The voice recognition system performed well, handling most commands accurately.

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 became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's improvements aimed to maintain or improve this rating.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured Toyota Safety Sense, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims. The adaptive cruise control performed well, but the lane-departure warning could be irritating. The 4Runner received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with three-star ratings for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS rated the 4Runner as Marginal for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.