2020 Acura MDX vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Acura MDX embodied a well-rounded and appealing design, although it wasn't revolutionary in its styling. It didn't have the glitz to turn heads in a crowded parking lot but maintained a respectable appearance that would not embarrass its owner. The vehicle featured Acura's signature Jewel Eye LED headlights, which added both functionality and a premium touch to its overall look. With a sleek and low-slung body, detailed features, and flawless paint and chrome, the MDX maintained Acura’s strength of superior exterior finish.

Inside, the Acura MDX delivered a modern and simple interior design. Unlike many luxury brands, it avoided excessive padding and stitching. The center stack stood out with twin infotainment screens: an 8.0-inch LED navigation display and an On-Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) touchscreen, both paired with a plethora of buttons and a prominent command wheel. The superior fit and finish, along with high-quality materials, lent the MDX a feel of solidity and reliability. The actuating knobs and switches offered a tangible sense of authority.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan had a clean and balanced design, which some may have considered understated, but in reality, it brought an air of conservative timelessness that promised to age well. It was more prominent for its class, offering a long-wheelbase version that almost matched bigger models like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento in size. This larger-than-average stature resulted in a spacious and accommodating interior.

The Tiguan’s interior reflected German precision with modern geometric shapes and a functional, no-nonsense layout. The main curiosity was the engine start button located on the center console rather than the dashboard. Soft-textured materials, shiny detailing, and an integrated touchscreen infotainment system dotted the interior. However, the use of hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks fell short of luxury expectations.

Both the 2020 Acura MDX and the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan presented their unique interpretations of style, with the MDX leaning more towards modern simplicity and the Tiguan favoring classic conservatism.

The 2020 Acura MDX offered two powertrain options. The first was a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It came with either front-wheel drive or Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which enhanced cornering dynamics by directing power to the outside wheel during a turn. This version demonstrated nimble handling and smooth power delivery, making cornering and acceleration both comfortable and drama-free.

The alternative was the MDX Sport Hybrid, featuring a 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine paired with three electric motors, generating a combined 321 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and came with all-wheel drive.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered a choice between front-wheel drive and a 4Motion AWD system, the latter being standard on the SEL Premium R-Line.

The Tiguan did suffer from some turbo lag, making acceleration a bit sluggish until the turbo kicked in. Its nearly 4,000-pound curb weight compounded this performance issue, leading to a sometimes breathless feeling during overtaking maneuvers. Despite this, the Tiguan maintained a quiet and composed ride on highways, though it wasn’t as sharp as expected during more spirited driving, with early tire grip loss and considerable body motion.

Fuel economy for the Tiguan was 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. Testing reported an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD model, which didn’t impress in terms of fuel efficiency considering its performance trade-offs.

The Acura MDX showcased a more robust and nuanced driving experience compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The 2020 Acura MDX demonstrated versatility akin to a modern minivan but with the stylish flair expected from an SUV. The sliding and reclining second-row seats facilitated easier access to the third row and allowed adjustable legroom across rows. With all seats up, the MDX provided 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the third row opened up 43.4 cubic feet, and with both rows down, it boasted a generous 90.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Thoughtful storage solutions included a recessed cubby, an underfloor storage compartment, and numerous pockets and bins around the cabin.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort in its spacious cabin with easy ingress and egress due to large doors and high seating. The rear space was particularly notable for its generous leg and foot room, and supportive seats. Passengers had access to air conditioning vents and USB ports, and the rear seats featured a 40/20/40 split, allowing for flexible cargo and passenger arrangements. The Tiguan’s cargo space varied between models: offering 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the third-row seat was included. Maximum cargo capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

Comparatively, the MDX excelled in total cargo space while the Tiguan was more generous in mid-level cargo capacity but had less overall maximum volume.

In 2020, the Acura MDX offered streamlined trim packages filled with technology features. The base model included Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SMS/MMS, a CD/MP3 player, five USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an eight-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added rain-sensing windshield wipers, navigation, GPS-linked climate control, and an upgraded Acura/ELS Studio Premium Audio system. The Advance Package expanded with more luxurious features such as heated and ventilated front seats, a surround-view camera, and additional USB ports. The Entertainment Package added a rear entertainment system with a large screen, HDMI compatibility, and wireless headphones.

On the tech front, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan welcomed the MIB3 Modular Infotainment Toolkit platform, which included an 8-inch touchscreen starting from the SE trim. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an array of connected services such as remote engine start and automatic crash notification. Despite these advancements, the system had some user interface issues, and the standard six-speaker system lacked the sound quality to handle more bass-heavy tracks at higher volumes. The SEL Premium R-Line upgraded to a nine-speaker Fender audio system, which performed much better.

Both vehicles provided advanced technology, but the Acura MDX’s offerings seemed more comprehensive out of the box, while the Tiguan focused on connectivity and infotainment enhancements.

The 2020 Acura MDX was equipped with AcuraWatch, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Advance Package included a Head-Up Warning. The MDX’s crash safety ratings were impressive, with the IIHS rating it “good” in all crash categories, “acceptable” for headlights and LATCH ease of use, and “superior” for front crash prevention. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive suite, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beams. The Tiguan’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were generally effective, though with some room for improvement in responsiveness. The SUV also featured post-collision braking and a reversing camera. The SEL Premium R-Line included a top-down surround-view camera. The IIHS gave the Tiguan a “Top Safety Pick” rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

Both the MDX and Tiguan demonstrated a strong focus on safety, with the MDX having a slight edge in overall safety ratings and crash test performance.