2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 presented itself as a formidable contender in the luxury SUV market, challenging the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz with its sophisticated design and high-quality materials. Mazda had surpassed its Japanese counterparts, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, in terms of design and material quality, edging closer to the luxury arms of those brands. The CX-90, with its imposing size of over 200 inches, featured a striking exterior with a large grille, wide-set front end, and wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. The tasteful chrome trim added to its elegance, making it a standout in the SUV segment. Inside, the CX-90 offered a luxurious experience, especially in the top-tier models, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents. The interior design was both stylish and comfortable, with 11 different trim levels available, catering to a range of preferences and budgets.

In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan exuded a premium feel, often perceived as more upscale than its non-European rivals. The German crossover's design was more refined, with standard LED headlights and taillights, and an illuminated grille light line on the SEL R-Line trim. The exterior design was complemented by silver roof rails and a centered model name at the rear. However, the Tiguan's color options were limited, with the base trim only available in grayscale. The interior offered a mix of features across trims, with the SEL R-Line boasting real leather, front-seat ventilation, and a heated steering wheel. Despite its stylish appearance, the Tiguan's configurator proved to be a challenge, with limited combinations of interior and exterior colors, wheel sizes, and materials.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S version offered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All CX-90 models came with all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Turbo S featured three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with noticeable differences in performance between Normal and Sport modes. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. Both CX-90 models excelled in handling, with a double-wishbone front suspension and transverse engine layout contributing to its agility.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard 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 (FWD) was standard, with Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD available for an additional cost on lower trims and standard on the top trim. The AWD system slightly impacted fuel economy, with the base Tiguan S achieving 25 mpg combined and the R-Line AWD trims rated at 24 mpg combined. The Tiguan SEL R-Line's performance was mixed, with inconsistent power delivery and a touchy gas pedal. The steering was light but provided good visibility and handling, making the vehicle feel more maneuverable. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the seating surfaces drew some complaints.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a variety of seating configurations, with lower-level trims seating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs for a seven-seat layout. The Turbo S models had a two-seat configuration in the third row, with the base trim seating seven and the Premium and Premium Plus models seating six. Cargo space varied slightly depending on the seating configuration, with up to 75.2 cubic feet available in models with a two-seater third row. The CX-90 provided ample storage options, including a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. The interior was comfortable, with high-quality materials and a panoramic sunroof enhancing the overall experience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, in its top-trim AWD configuration, seated five passengers, while FWD models offered a seven-seat layout. The two-row Tiguan provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The three-row configuration reduced cargo space to 12 cubic feet behind the third row and 65.3 cubic feet with only the front seats in position. Passenger space was minimally affected by the third-row option, with the second row offering 38.7 inches of legroom and the third row providing 27.9 inches. Despite the compact crossover's limitations, the Tiguan remained one of the few in its class to offer a third row.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on minimizing distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used hard buttons and a rotary control knob instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to enhance safety, the system's quirks often led to frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software with facial recognition, adjusting settings to the driver's preferences. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless connectivity in higher trims. The rotary controller worked with these systems, but touchscreen controls were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Tiguan S had a smaller 6.5-inch screen and fewer USB-C ports. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with the i-Activsense suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also featured cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While the 2024 CX-90 had not been crash-tested, its predecessor, the CX-9, received high safety ratings, suggesting similar performance for the new model.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and its safety features improved for 2024 with the standard inclusion of the IQ.DRIVE suite. This package offered adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, and emergency assist. Additional standard features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection. Park Distance Control became standard at the SE R-Line Black trim level, though its performance was mixed.