2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches, all wrapped in a purposeful yet expressive design. It offered primary trim levels including Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with the latter being the best for off-roading. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim started at $25,210, while the High Altitude test car, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. This version featured extra-cost paint, trendy dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, the interior's hard plastic and all-black color scheme made it look inexpensive despite the fancy details.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan had clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to its long-wheelbase version. The Tiguan's roomy interior could comfortably accommodate four people, with an optional third-row seat expanding capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, the presence of hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks detracted from its otherwise upscale feel. Pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, with the SEL trim test vehicle priced at $35,040.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle had the turbocharged engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and the Active Drive AWD system. Despite the turbo's peak torque arriving at 1,750 rpm, turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in a hesitant powertrain response. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were less than ideal, with a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin making highway driving a chore. The Trailhawk trim was noted as the best version for off-roading.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as an option. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbo lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The test vehicle averaged 22.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 24 mpg with AWD. Despite this, 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 its tires gave up grip early in corners. The Tiguan was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt larger than many competitors due to its boxy design and panoramic glass roof. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat made it easy to get comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear occupants. The Renegade had limited practical interior storage and modest cargo volume, measuring 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat offered excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear passengers. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo and passenger arrangements. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the presence of the third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its Uconnect infotainment system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with logically arranged menu buttons and knobs. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

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, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had faster processing times and an expanded feature set, but the user interface had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was subpar. The SEL Premium R-Line trim included a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and commendable scores from the IIHS, though it did not retain its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with IQ Drive, 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 for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, but the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.