2021 Ford Bronco vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing a second generation of its compact crossover SUV. The redesign addressed the original Tiguan’s small size and high price, making it more competitive with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The 2020 Tiguan maintained a stylish and conservatively German exterior, featuring clean lines and a horizontal grille with the new flat VW logo. However, the interior showed signs of cost-cutting, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic, making it less impressive than previous Volkswagen interiors. The optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights, offering a modern, smartphone-like appeal.

The 2021 Ford Bronco, inspired by the original 1966 model, embraced a "Retrofuturism" design, updating the classic look with modern technology and materials. The Bronco featured a single-piece grille with bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, round headlights, and removable off-road sights on the hood. The body had flat sides with applied fender flares and large tires, with options for 32-inch or 35-inch tires. The Bronco came in two-door and four-door configurations, with a choice of a black soft-top or a modular removable hardtop. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with modern technology, including a color touchscreen and a digitized instrument cluster. The interior felt rugged and tough, with metal-reinforced grab handles and stretchy mesh door pockets.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan's engine was tuned for torque, providing a snappy throttle response and minimal turbo lag. However, its larger size and weight made it less nimble than competitors, and passing on the highway required patience. The Tiguan's cabin was well-insulated from wind noise, making it a quiet highway cruiser, though some road noise could filter through on rough surfaces. The suspension was soft, ensuring a comfortable ride, but the steering was too light, even in sport mode.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine had a 10-speed automatic transmission. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive (4WD). On-road, the Bronco drove like an off-road truck, with the 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package providing a noisy, wiggly ride. Off-road, the Bronco excelled, handling various terrain conditions with ease. The 2.7-liter engine and 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery, making the Bronco a capable and fun off-roader.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan offered practicality with its sliding second-row seats, making the third row useful for shorter adults and kids. Front-drive Tiguans had a standard third row, while AWD models had it as an option. The third row had limited headroom and low cushion position, but it was roomier than many third rows in larger vehicles. The second-row seats folded flat, providing 65.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row collapsed, and 73.5 cubic feet in two-row models. The Tiguan's wide beam offered plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats, and the abundant glass made it feel roomier than its competitors.

The 2021 Ford Bronco emphasized modularity, with removable doors and fenders, and dedicated storage bags for the doors. The doors had integrated grip handles and a simple electrical connection, making removal and replacement easy. The Bronco featured standard under-chassis protection and optional skid plates, with removable bumpers and a one-piece front grille. The hood had trail sights with tie-down holes for roof-mounted cargo. Inside, the Bronco had a row of buttons for suspension settings and beefy toggle switches for auxiliary equipment. The interior was designed for off-road use, with reinforced grab handles and stretchy mesh door pockets.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen in the base S trim and an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen in higher trims. The 8-inch screen had a glass surface, bright colors, and a responsive processor. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port, while higher trims had two USB-A ports in the front and one in the second row. A wireless charging pad was available in higher trims. The Digital Cockpit, available on top SEL trims, offered a customizable digital instrument panel. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Ford Bronco used the SYNC 4 infotainment interface with enhanced voice recognition. The base model had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the High Package included a 12-inch touchscreen. The Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated touchscreen navigation, and a wireless device charging pad. The Bronco had a G.O.A.T. system for off-road traction control, with up to seven drive modes. Push-button start was standard, with proximity key entry available in higher trims. The Mid Package added a rear-view camera with backup assist lines and auto high-beam headlamps. The Sasquatch Package included position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers for increased off-road capability.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan improved its standard safety package with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. All models had Car-Net, a telematics package connecting the vehicle to an owner's smartphone or watch. Car-Net offered remote locking and unlocking, status checks, vehicle location, and more. The Tiguan was rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for SEL Premium models with LED headlights, but most models had halogen headlights rated poor.

The 2021 Ford Bronco had packaged safety features, with more options available in higher trims. The Base model had airbags, while the Mid Package added a reverse sensing system, Ford Co-Pilot 360 with pre-collision assist, blind-spot information system, lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps, and a rear-view camera. The High Package added a 360-degree camera, forward-sensing system, and side-view mirror LED approach lamps. The Bronco had side curtain airbags with sensors for off-roading situations. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had released crash-test ratings for the 2021 Bronco.