2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained its design from the previous year, with the most notable update being the complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan for owners. Available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, the Tiguan offered a range of prices from $26,950 to $37,680, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured sporty styling and 20-inch machined-finish wheels, giving it a more expensive appearance. Despite its conservative lines, the Tiguan's design aged gracefully, with adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille enhancing its appeal. Inside, the cabin exuded an upscale feel with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and digital instrumentation, although some materials reminded occupants of its more affordable base price.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS exuded a soft sensuality in its design, which, while bordering on boring, aged well, especially with upgraded wheels. The GLS 450 test vehicle featured 22-inch AMG rims, a new silver four-louver grille, polished metal accents, and Twilight Blue paint. Inside, the GLS 450 showcased a Bahia Brown over Black interior with natural-grain Grey Oak, contrast stitching, and polished aluminum accents, creating a luxurious environment. The GLS 450, the most affordable version, came with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology. The test vehicle included the AMG Line and Exclusive Trim Packages, Acoustic Comfort Package, leather upholstery, and wood trim, bringing the MSRP to $97,730, including a $1,150 destination charge.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system available. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes such as Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Tiguan's turbo-four engine provided adequate power, though it struggled at higher revs and exhibited turbo lag from a stop. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, but Sport mode improved responsiveness. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and a stable feel in curves. The ride was compliant, providing a good balance between road feel and comfort, though road noise was noticeable.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, delivering 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The GLS 450 accelerated to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, with a nine-speed automatic transmission and variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Driving modes included Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual, with a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. The GLS 450 offered a sublime driving experience, with smooth acceleration and responsive handling. The adaptive air suspension allowed the SUV to handle twisty roads with ease, while the massive Continental Premium Contact tires provided excellent grip. The brakes performed admirably, allowing for smooth stops in the city. The GLS also featured an Off-Road menu within MBUX, providing a transparent view through the hood for off-roading.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with FWD versions featuring a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, making AWD versions with larger cargo areas more appealing. The SEL R-Line trim had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were problematic, with reflections and awkward placement hindering usability. Despite these issues, the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with generous legroom, headroom, and foot room in the rear. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area, with 37.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats in AWD models.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS, equipped with the AMG Line package, featured sportier styling but posed challenges when entering or exiting the SUV. The front seats were comfortable, with heating, ventilation, and massage programs. The Exclusive Trim Package added heated rear seats and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain's chairs offered excellent thigh support, while the third-row seat was snug for adults but suitable for children. Interior storage was decent, with practical cargo space offering 17.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 42.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 84.7 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on the SEL R-Line. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes and sub-menus creating unnecessary complexity. The voice-recognition system underperformed, often lacking a data connection, which limited its usefulness.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with the latest MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system offered improved graphics and themes, with intuitive touchscreen operation and outstanding natural voice recognition technology. However, touch-sensitive areas on the steering wheel and center console caused unwanted changes to the displays, leading to confusion and distraction. Despite these issues, MBUX was a model of technology done right, with impressive augmented reality for navigation and a user-friendly interface.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found on luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking, as well as Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and semi-autonomous driving assist. The Tiguan's safety technology worked seamlessly, with minimal driver irritation and smooth adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, with concerns about the driver's door unlatching during side-impact tests.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with over 20 significant safety features, adjustable through MBUX. The advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were praised for their subtle and smooth operation, with forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist systems performing effectively. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems handled various driving conditions with ease, providing a transparent and irritation-free experience. The GLS's ADAS technology was outstanding, with only a minor issue when the lane-centering assist momentarily turned off.