2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that, while not groundbreaking, featured some notable updates from its predecessor. The tailgate glass was more slanted, and the body panels had more pronounced creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Higher trims like the Limited and Platinum boasted projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, along with attractive LED running lamps. The new 20-inch wheels on these trims added a touch of flair. Despite these updates, the Highlander's exterior was often considered more functional than exciting.

Inside, the Highlander excelled with its quality fit and finish. Silver-painted accents highlighted the armrests, steering wheel, and gear selector, while an 8-inch touchscreen and polished black plastic climate controls floated above the multi-layered dash. The color palettes were pleasing, even on the base L trim. The Limited trim featured a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class. The Platinum trim added diamond quilting on the seat backrests. While the exterior might not have been as inviting, the Highlander’s interior was a standout.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, had a clean and balanced design that some might have found understated but undeniably elegant. Its conservative, upscale aesthetic was likely to age well. The Tiguan was also notably large for its class, nearly matching the interior space of larger SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. This second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor, offering a roomy and accommodating interior.

The Tiguan's interior was spacious, with plenty of room for four people and the option to carry five. An optional third-row seat expanded capacity to seven, though it was best suited for children. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with the only oddity being the engine start button's placement. Shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system added a touch of sophistication, though the presence of hard plastics and flimsy steering wheel stalks reminded occupants that this was not an Audi. The Tiguan came in various trims, with the SEL trim offering a well-rounded package.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration without the need for a turbocharger. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a floaty ride. However, this setup provided a calm and isolating driving experience, ideal for long road trips.

The Highlander offered selectable driving modes and torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models, enhancing its handling. Fuel economy was commendable for a vehicle of its size, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The AWD model returned 20/27/23 mpg. The Highlander hybrid, reviewed separately, could achieve up to 36 mpg combined. The auto stop-start feature was customizable, allowing drivers to extend the engine-off time by adjusting the climate control.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with power sent to the front wheels by default. The 4Motion AWD system was available as an option. While the engine provided adequate power, it suffered from turbo lag, leading to a delayed response in some driving situations. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight also contributed to a perception of lethargy during acceleration.

Fuel economy for the Tiguan was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD models and 24 mpg for AWD models. During testing, the AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite the engine's shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action. However, the suspension struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and the tires lacked grip in corners. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making it suitable for long road trips.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight passengers or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous adjustments and easy access to the third row. The front and rear seat heights allowed for easy ingress and egress. The Highlander featured three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet for the rear, side window shades, and a heated second row on upper trims. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Highlander also had eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage.

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. The Tiguan's V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control system provided a comfortable environment. The back seat offered generous legroom and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo and passenger configurations. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the SUV had the optional third-row seat. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured an infotainment system that felt outdated. The maps lacked detail, there were no onboard apps, and the screen resolution was low. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The Highlander also had a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and the optional JBL audio system provided decent sound quality. Standard features included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system, available starting with the SE trim. MIB3 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Tiguan's MIB3 system was an improvement, though the user interface had some 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's nine-speaker Fender audio system offered better sound quality. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims also featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Highlander a 2020 Top Safety Pick, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet rated it.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with IQ Drive, which included 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 trim 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's adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan also had a standard reversing camera and automatic post-collision braking. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.