When shopping for a compact crossover, you’ve probably heard about many different models. The Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5, to name a few. There’s nothing wrong with these excellent options, but most people forget about one underrated model. Critics agree that the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the best compact crossovers. That’s why it’s the sporty, underrated model you forgot about.

Volkswagen Tiguan: Price and trim levels

Firstly, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan starts at $27,490 for the S base model. There are four trim levels total, but prices only range about $10,000 from top to bottom. The Volkswagen compact crossover’s starting price is comparable to rivals like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5. However, the Tiguan ranks higher on some critics’ rankings than most of these popular models.

For example, Car and Driver have the Tiguan ranked second, only behind the Mazda CX-5 on its compact crossover rankings. That’s high praise from a prestigious publication, but what do other critics think? MotorTrend gave the Tiguan a 7.4 out of 10, putting it in the 11th spot for compact SUVs. However, Consumer Reports scored the Volkswagen crossover 84 out of 100 on its road test.

Furthermore, affordability is at the forefront of the pros of owning a Tiguan. It isn’t wildly inexpensive compared to other compact crossovers, but its luxuriousness makes it feel like a bargain. Maybe it’s just the 2022 styling refresh, but the Tiguan feels like a luxury crossover.

What’s new with the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan?

For the 2022 model year, the Tiguan’s styling is refreshed. This includes new LED headlamps, a revised grille and bumpers, and brand new wheel designs. In addition, the interior gained a new steering wheel with touch controls, and heated seats and a digital gauge display are now standard. Other than the base model S, all models receive a new touch-sensitive climate control panel, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Travel Assist, a semi-autonomous driving mode.

An underrated sporty compact crossover

Under the hood of every 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The setup makes 184 horsepower and, on average, gets 23 city and 30 highway mpg. Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, but VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system is available for any model. Car and Driver called the Tiguan a “sporty, fun-to-drive SUV with a smooth, willing engine and a well-coordinated automatic transmission.”

Next, excellent handling and responsive steering make up for its lack of speed. Although, speed isn’t a common topic among any vehicles in its class. What it lacks in overall power it makes up for in finesse and sporty steering. One of the reasons it’s primarily flown under the radar is its lack of speed. However, no other models in the compact crossover segment are much to write home about either. Models that offer high-performance in the segment tend to be much more costly.

Should you buy a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan?

If you’re a fan of other sporty Volkswagen models like the Golf GTI, the Tiguan might be your crossover. While compact models like this don’t excel in every area SUVs do, fuel economy, spaciousness, and technology are at the forefront. Lastly, the trim levels and affordable pricing make the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan desirable. You should give the sporty compact crossover you forgot about a chance.