2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, its platform mate. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system, lattice-type grille insert, and illuminated star logo added to its distinctiveness. The Navigator also offered a new Reserve Monochromatic Package with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black. Inside, the Navigator's Dark Slate leather interior, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and mid-century modern styling cues created a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan showcased clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. The second-generation Tiguan corrected the size issues of its predecessor, providing a roomy interior nearly as spacious as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan's interior featured modern geometric forms, a no-nonsense control layout, and shiny detailing. However, it had more hard plastic than an Audi, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, was priced at $35,040, including the destination charge.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain offered strong acceleration, though it lacked the V8 rumble some might prefer. The Navigator's fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg during testing, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. The SUV's adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness on imperfect pavement, but its body motion control was excellent. The Navigator's towing capacity reached 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbo lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's fuel economy averaged 22.6 mpg during testing, below the EPA's 24 mpg combined rating for AWD models. The SUV offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with suspension isolation over sharp bumps and lacked the athleticism of Volkswagen's GTI.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and heated steering wheel provided exceptional comfort. The second row could be configured with a bench or captain's chairs, and the third row offered class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were impressive, with the standard-length model providing up to 103.3 cubic feet and the longer Navigator L offering up to 120.2 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and adjustable front seats. The back seat provided excellent support, 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 volumes ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load but offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. The system's voice recognition was functional but not as advanced as some competitors. The test vehicle included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display. The optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system added dual 10-inch displays and wireless headphones.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line trim offered a nine-speaker Fender audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, providing an understated yet functional technology experience.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance operated smoothly. The Navigator earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the IQ Drive suite, 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 and lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line had automatic high-beam headlights and parking sensors. The Tiguan's adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The SUV earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.