2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 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 size issues and aimed to make it more competitively priced against rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The result was a stylish, conservatively German vehicle that showed some evidence of cost-cutting upon closer inspection. The exterior featured clean lines and a horizontal grille connecting the headlights, while the interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. The optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights, offering a modern, smartphone-like appeal.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E tried to draw a connection with the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior styling. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it maintained a Mustang-like appearance with thin headlights, a long hood, and a large oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang’s, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior color palette, including Grabber Blue, reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen and a thin rectangular display serving as the instrument cluster. The minimalist design, similar to Tesla electric cars, featured decent-quality materials but lacked a leather-upholstery option, even in top trims. First Edition models had unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

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 curb weight ranged from 3,757 pounds for the front-wheel-drive model to 3,847 pounds for the all-wheel-drive version. Despite its snappy throttle response and minimal turbo lag, the Tiguan was only moderately quick, with highway passing requiring patience. The engine was relatively muted, and the cabin was well-insulated from wind noise, making it a quiet highway cruiser. However, road noise could filter through on rough surfaces. 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 ride even on rough roads, but the steering was too light, even in sport mode.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E needed to be sporty to live up to the Mustang name. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent AWD GT Performance Edition packed 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car, with a lower-level AWD powertrain, produced 346 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feeling due to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension made for poor ride quality, especially with the 19-inch wheels. The Mach-E had three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also offered one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan’s practicality made up for its performance shortcomings. The second row of seats could slide up to seven inches, making the third row useful. Although the third row was not spacious, it had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. Front-drive Tiguans had the third row as standard, while AWD models were five-seaters with the third row available as a $595 option. The split 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 felt roomy, with plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats and abundant glass in the greenhouse, making it feel larger than it was.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more like a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn’t create a feeling of spaciousness, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom. The Model Y also had more cargo space, with 68.0 cubic feet compared to the Mach-E’s 59.7 cubic feet. The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The narrow space between the front seats had a decent-sized storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large, flat area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The current system was already one of the best on the market, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display in the base S trim and an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen in higher trims. The system was responsive, with bright colors and graphics. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port in the front, 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. VW’s Digital Cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel, was available on top SEL trims, offering a customizable display. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to feature the new Sync 4 infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, while higher trims had a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The 15.5-inch touchscreen displayed almost everything at once, making for a text-heavy and unattractive design. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls, with a large volume knob and touchscreen icons for climate controls.

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. However, features like 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 connecting 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 Mustang Mach-E had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trims had a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was also slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600.