2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, boasting a more handsome appearance than the Land Rover Discovery. The latest model refined its upscale, utilitarian design by slimming down the body panels and giving it a lower, more athletic stance. The widened headlights, extra-large grille, and italic "Explorer" lettering on the hood's edge created a prominent and recognizable face. However, the interior was a letdown. Despite the high price tag, the materials felt cheap, with low-grade vinyl and hard plastics dominating the cabin. The Explorer's interior failed to match the luxury feel of its competitors, making it seem either too expensive or not nice enough.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. The Tiguan was large for its class, providing a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and an optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a purposeful control layout, though it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi. The Tiguan's design was understated but elegant, ensuring it would age well over time.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powerful engines and a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis, providing a more balanced weight distribution. The ST trim featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered smooth, uninterrupted power and nimble handling, making it a standout in its class. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft, and a gas-electric hybrid option with a net 318 hp. Towing capacity varied from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the engine. The Explorer's seven drive modes catered to various driving conditions, enhancing its versatility.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While adequate for daily driving, the engine suffered from turbo lag and felt breathless during high-demand situations. The Tiguan's fuel economy was decent, with EPA ratings of 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD. The Tiguan excelled in urban and suburban environments, offering light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action. However, it struggled on curvy roads and over sharp bumps, revealing its limitations in handling and suspension isolation.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample space for passengers and cargo. On a road trip to Maine, the Explorer comfortably accommodated three adults and their gear. The second row felt like first class, with air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof. The third row could fit six-foot-tall adults for short journeys, though the bench was too flat for long-distance comfort. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Explorer's physical knobs and switches made it easy to use, though thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras created blind spots.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort, with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy entry and exit. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments and excellent visibility, while the back seats provided generous legroom and foot space. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo configurations, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. Storage space was limited, but the Tiguan's overall interior design was practical and accommodating.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Higher trims featured a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. While the touchscreen was high-resolution and well-organized, the instrument panel felt unfinished, with wasted screen space and limited customization options. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system offered semi-automated driving features but was not as refined as competitors' systems.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system, available starting with the SE trim. MIB3 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system was an improvement but had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. Higher trims offered the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking. The Explorer had not been fully tested by the NHTSA, but the IIHS rated it Acceptable in the small overlap test on the driver's side.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, thanks to high-performing LED headlights.