2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

Pros: Generous cargo room; well-finished interior; good ride quality with composed handling

Cons: Third-row seat is cramped; powertrain occasionally feels lackadaisical

CG Says: The Volkswagen Tiguan is refreshed for 2022, gaining updated exterior styling, a new steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls, and other minor revisions. Heated front seats and VW’s Digital Cockpit virtual instrument panel with an 8-inch screen are now standard on all trims (a 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro display is available). Wireless charging, wireless App-Connect, a new touch-sensitive climate-control panel, and the IQ.DRIVE driver-assistance suite are now standard on all but the base trim level. The Tiguan was redesigned for 2018 on a larger platform that provided more cargo room and created space for an available third-row seat, for 7-passenger capacity. (The Mitsubishi Outlander is the only other compact SUV that offers a third-row seat.) The Tiguan’s sole powertrain is a 184-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive is optional; interestingly, the third-row seat is standard on front-drive Tiguans and is available on AWD models as an option. Available safety features include blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning and mitigation, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, and automatic post-collision braking. Other available features include adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free power liftgate, and adaptive cruise control. Tiguan hits the mark with its spacious cabin, well-designed technology features, and classy styling inside and out. The available third-row seating is a handy addition, but it cuts into maximum cargo volume a bit and it’s cramped enough to be suitable mainly for small children. Dynamically, the Tiguan offers a comfortable, absorbent ride with composed handling, but some shoppers might wish for a bit more powertrain pep and responsiveness.