2020 Cadillac XT4 vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Cadillac XT4, with its Premium Luxury trim, presented a more luxurious and less sporty demeanor. It featured front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, along with a navigation system and a Bose premium audio system. The XT4's exterior was visually appealing, especially with its 20-inch alloy wheels, showcasing crisp, tailored styling. Inside, the cabin was pleasant, using competitive quality materials, though some areas like the plain black trim around the power window controls fell short of luxury expectations.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan boasted clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was larger for its class, nearly matching the interior space of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan's interior was roomy, accommodating up to seven passengers with an optional third-row seat. The cabin combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it featured too much hard plastic for a truly premium feel. The Tiguan's pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, with our test vehicle priced at $35,040.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a lively driving character, though front-wheel drive models experienced slip and torque steer. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered smooth shifts but hesitated to downshift in Tour mode. The XT4's ride and handling were mixed, with good steering effort in Tour mode but an artificially heavy sensation in Sport mode. The oversized wheels provided impressive grip, but the suspension struggled with speed humps and smaller bumps.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The engine suffered from turbocharger lag, feeling breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but our test vehicle averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite these drawbacks, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action. However, the suspension allowed too much body motion on curvy roads.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 provided comfort for the driver and front passenger with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear passenger compartment felt roomier than many small SUVs, though the rear seat cushion lacked support. The XT4's air conditioning system was highly effective, rapidly cooling the interior. Storage space was ample, with innovative features like an angled wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited, offering 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the seat folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, and the back seat provided excellent support and legroom. The Tiguan's panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, and storage space was somewhat limited. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo arrangements, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the presence of a third-row seat. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured an improved Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen was a highlight, though there was room for improvement, such as a larger screen and better integration with the climate system. The optional 13-speaker Bose audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, but the test car lacked features like a head-up display and a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system, offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a range of connected services. The system was an improvement, though the user interface had quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line featured a nine-speaker Fender audio system. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims also included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 came with forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and low-speed automatic emergency braking as standard. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. The Driver Awareness Package included additional features like lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. The XT4 received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not completed all testing.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while SEL included lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. The Tiguan's parking sensors and reversing camera provided additional safety features. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating for SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.