The Volkswagen Tiguan is a consumer favorite in the compact SUV category. That's easy to understand, as its list of qualities generally outshines those of its main competitors.
Even Hyundai's new Tucson, completely redesigned for 2022, can't shake the Tiguan's strength. In fact, the Tiguan has nothing to fear from its avowed rival, as you'll see from the following points.
A proven vehicle
The Tiguan hit the market in 2018. Since then, it has proven to be a reliable product for Volkswagen. That's reassuring for any buyer. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, is brand new for 2022, which should make one cautious. Yes, it's true that we can rely on the brand's history to get an idea, but there were many recalls with this vehicle during the last generation.
All of this calls for restraint. Consequently, the choice of a Tiguan is more logical in this sense.
More practical
But that's not the only reason, of course. The Tiguan is a much more practical model because of its interior configuration. On board, it's initially possible to seat seven people thanks to the presence of a third bench seat. With the Tucson, it's limited to five seats. There's nothing Hyundai can do about that.
Then, when the seats are folded down behind the front seats, these extra dimensions allow for more stuff to be crammed into the rear space. Roughly speaking, the Tiguan has over 200 liters more volume (2081 liters vs. 1876 liters), making it a great companion when it's time to hit the road.
Quality
Finally, let's finish with a more abstract but tangible element: quality. Inside the Tiguan, the German rigor is clearly visible as everything is fine-tuned. That's fine with the Tucson, but you don't feel the same discipline. And that's also reflected in the design.
Take the dashboards of each model as an example. With Volkswagen, everything is modern, yet classic with a sophisticated and eye-pleasing style. With Hyundai, it looks like they tried to impress with a futuristic look, but the effect falls flat. The screens are poorly integrated and in front of the driver, you get the feeling that the vehicle has not finished being built; the space is empty.
In short, for all these reasons, the Volkswagen Tiguan remains a much more interesting choice than the Hyundai Tucson. To find out, a little detour to the dealership will allow you to see everything.