2021 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing an all-new 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 result was a stylish and conservatively German vehicle that showed some evidence of cost-cutting upon closer inspection. The Tiguan featured clean and simple lines, with a horizontal grille connecting the headlights and a new flat logo. However, the interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic, though the optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a sight for sore eyes after a restless redeye flight from Maui. The Platinum trim, the most luxurious version of the Expedition, featured Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs. Despite its luxurious features, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum had a bold presence with an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork all around. The extended-length MAX version would have been a better fit for carrying more cargo and passengers.

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 drove either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan’s powertrain offered a snappy throttle response with minimal turbo lag, but it was only moderately fleet of foot. The Tiguan’s handling was impacted by its larger size, with a longer wheelbase making it less nimble. The suspension was soft, ensuring a comfortable driving experience even on rough roads. The Tiguan was a quiet highway cruiser, with a well-insulated cabin and a relatively muted engine sound.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Expedition had a towing capacity ranging from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The twin-turbo V6 provided impressive acceleration, even with a full load of passengers and cargo. The Expedition’s ride quality suffered from the Platinum’s 22-inch wheels, but the four-wheel independent suspension kept it glued to the road. The FX4 Off-Road Package added off-road capabilities, but the test vehicle did not have this option, averaging 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in practicality, with a second row of seats that could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row useful. The third row had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. Front-drive Tiguans had the third row as standard, while AWD models had it as an option. The split second-row rear seats folded flat, providing a cargo hold capacity of 65.7 cubic feet with the third row collapsed and 73.5 cubic feet in two-row Tiguans. The Tiguan felt roomy, with plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats and abundant glass in its greenhouse.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for every passenger, including adults in the third row. The front seats offered a massage function, adding to the comfort. The Expedition’s independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down, and the maximum volume behind the front seats was 104.6 cubic feet. The Expedition MAX provided even more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, while SE and higher trims had an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen upgrade. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port in the front, while higher trims had two USB-A ports in front of the gearshift lever and a third in the second row. The Digital Cockpit, available on top SEL trims, was a fully digital instrument panel that could be customized and reconfigured. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot were standard.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, which had a user-friendly interface but a recessed 8-inch touchscreen display that looked small. Sync 3 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. The available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, the ability to stream content from a mobile device, and Slingbox compatibility.

For the 2020 model year, Volkswagen improved the Tiguan’s standard safety package, adding forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert to all models. Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. All 2020 Tiguan models were equipped with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app. The IIHS rated the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick for top-of-the-line SEL Premium models with LED headlights, while most Tiguans with halogen headlights were rated poor.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, giving it a safety advantage over most other vehicles. The NHTSA awarded the Expedition a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover-resistance rating, and the 4WD model had a four-star rating. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Limited trim and above offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.