2023 Kia Sportage vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Kia Sportage underwent a significant redesign, presenting a look that was both exciting and exotic, reminiscent of French automotive styling. Its standout features included bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and a distinctive grille, which, along with the textured metal trim on the D Pillar, added a touch of class to this compact crossover. The interior saw a shift from leather to synthetic leather upholstery, offering a more durable and animal-friendly option, though it lacked the premium feel of genuine leather. The driver’s seat provided excellent visibility, and the dashboard was dominated by an impressive display, though some interior elements, like the hard plastic plate near the door handle, were less appealing.

In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan exuded a premium feel, often perceived as more upscale than its non-European competitors. The exterior featured standard LED headlights and taillights, with an illuminated grille light line on the SEL R-Line trim. The Tiguan's design was cohesive, with silver roof rails on the SEL R-Line and a stylish rear end. However, the base trim offered limited color options, and the configurator could be confusing when selecting specific combinations of interior and exterior features. The interior of the Tiguan was marked by firm seating, with the two-row configuration providing ample cargo space, while the three-row option compromised cargo capacity but maintained passenger space.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), the Sportage delivered a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with FWD, and 23/28/25 with AWD. While the engine was more powerful than the previous model, it lacked the punch of the discontinued turbocharged option. The X-Line and X-Pro trims added rugged visual cues and off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro featuring all-terrain tires and specific drive modes. Despite its off-road prowess, the Sportage's on-road performance was hindered by its naturally aspirated engine and higher ground clearance.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD as standard and 4Motion AWD available for an additional cost. The AWD option slightly reduced fuel efficiency, with the base Tiguan S achieving 25 mpg combined, and the R-Line AWD trims rated at 24 mpg combined. The Tiguan's power delivery was inconsistent, with turbo and transmission lag, and the steering felt light and rubbery. However, visibility and handling were commendable, contributing to a comfortable ride with minimal road noise.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, now larger than its predecessor, offered impressive interior space, with 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Folding the back seat expanded the cargo capacity to 74.1 cubic feet. The front seats provided ample storage, but the touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating to use, complicating basic functions.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, available in both two-row and three-row configurations, offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space in the two-row model, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The three-row version had limited cargo space, but passenger space remained largely unaffected. The Tiguan provided 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom for front passengers, with slightly reduced dimensions in the second and third rows. Despite the tight third-row space, the Tiguan was one of the few compact crossovers to offer this option.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a panoramic driver information display on the SX trim and above. While the technology was impressive, the wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on higher trims were puzzling, as the base LX offered wireless connectivity. The Sportage included wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, and a Harman Kardon stereo on select trims, providing a technologically advanced experience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's infotainment system featured an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the base trim had a 6.5-inch screen. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch display. The Tiguan's haptic touch slider buttons for climate control were responsive, but the physical volume knob was cumbersome. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System on the SEL R-Line provided excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of collision-avoidance and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and for 2024, the IQ.DRIVE suite of driver-assistance features became standard. This included adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, and semi-autonomous highway driving capabilities. Additional safety features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection.