2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling cues like the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. It boasted a balanced appearance that was equally at home on rugged trails and at upscale venues, making it attractive to a diverse range of buyers. Prices for the Grand Cherokee started at $32,150 for the Laredo and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions priced at $68,895 and $87,400, respectively. The tested Grand Cherokee Limited X, priced at $53,275, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a ventilated hood design, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom appearance.

However, the interior of the Grand Cherokee, especially models priced over $50,000, was a letdown. While premium materials were used, they were applied over a foundation that lacked substance, with an overabundance of hard plastic. This was particularly disappointing given the high price point of some variants.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, showcased clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was large for its class, nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to its long-wheelbase version. This upsizing resulted in a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and the optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children.

Volkswagen combined modern geometric interior forms with a purposeful, no-nonsense control layout. The Tiguan's cabin featured shiny detailing, available digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, there was too much hard plastic, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy. Pricing for the Tiguan ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, with the tested SEL trim with 4Motion AWD priced at $35,040.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the test vehicle achieved only 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available: a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft, capable of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

The Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities were highlighted by the Trailhawk model, equipped with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and the most capable 4WD system. The Limited X trim featured the Quadra-Trac II 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain traction control, and hill descent control. On pavement, the Grand Cherokee's driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 4Motion AWD system was a $1,400 option on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The engine suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers, especially given the nearly 4,000-pound curb weight.

The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but the test vehicle averaged only 22.6 mpg. Despite the engine's shortcomings, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and the tires gave up grip early in corners.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space measuring 36.3 cubic feet behind the backseat and 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. Heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort, but the Limited X trim lacked ventilated seats. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was a pleasure to grip, and rear passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a handy tray in the center console and sizable door-panel bins.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control system added to the comfort. The back seat provided excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. 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.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan supported up to eight devices. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system, but higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system. Unique to Jeep's Uconnect was the Off-Road Pages app, providing information related to off-roading excursions.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the voice recognition technology was lacking, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line featured a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Marginal rating from the IIHS for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive collection of ADAS, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.