2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen had completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing a second generation of its compact crossover SUV. This redesign addressed the original Tiguan’s size issues and aimed to be 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, simple lines with a horizontal grille connecting the headlights, while the interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. The focus was on electronics, with an optional digital dashboard and a glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, offered a more luxurious experience at a surprisingly reasonable price. The Santa Fe lineup included new gasoline engines and a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, with trim levels ranging from SE to the luxurious Calligraphy. The exterior featured a redesigned front end with new running lights, grille, and bumper, while the interior boasted new colors, patterns, and textures. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with premium leather, a suede-like headliner, and a high-tech 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. The Santa Fe’s fit and finish, along with its solid controls, made it feel like a higher-end vehicle.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine 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 its larger size and weight made it only moderately quick. The Tiguan’s handling was impacted by its longer wheelbase, making it less nimble than some competitors. However, its soft suspension ensured a comfortable driving experience, even on rough roads. The Tiguan’s cabin was well-insulated from wind noise, making it a quiet highway cruiser.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains. The SE and SEL trims came with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrids featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, producing a total of 226 horsepower. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe’s driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Smart, with the turbocharged engine offering impressive performance and fuel efficiency. The Santa Fe’s added structural rigidity, improved braking system, and refined handling made it a significantly better driving experience for 2021.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan’s practicality was a standout feature. The second row of seats could slide up to seven inches, making the third row more usable. While the third row was not spacious, it had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. Front-drive Tiguans came with a third row, while AWD models were standard five-seaters with the third row as an 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’s wide beam offered plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats, making it feel as roomy as many midsize SUVs.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed for those who didn’t need a third-row seat, offered added passenger room and comfort. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, with stain-resistant fabric in cloth seats and leather available in higher trims. The luxurious Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather and a suede-like headliner. The Santa Fe’s seats were comfortable, with power adjustments and heating/ventilation options in higher trims. The rear seat was spacious, with air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, and rear side-window sunshades. The Santa Fe’s cargo space was 36.4 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 72.1 cubic feet with it folded down, making it suitable for long road trips.

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 higher trims had an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with bright colors and a speedy processor. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port, while higher trims had USB-A ports and a wireless charging pad. VW’s Digital Cockpit, available on top SEL trims, was a fully digital instrument panel that could be customized and reconfigured. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display. The basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch touchscreen had wired versions of these platforms, upgraded voice-recognition technology, and enhanced Blue Link connected services. The Santa Fe also offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system. Blue Link provided a range of connected services, including remote engine start and climate control adjustments. The Santa Fe also featured Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing for remote control of the vehicle.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan’s standard safety package included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. All Tiguan models came with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch. 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 received a poor rating.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive list of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance. Safe Exit Assist used blind-spot monitoring sensors to warn occupants not to open a door when it was unsafe. The Santa Fe also had a rear-occupant alert system and Blind-Spot View Monitor. Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and lane-following technologies. The IIHS rated the Santa Fe a Top Safety Pick when equipped with LED projector headlights, earning the highest possible ratings for crashworthiness and front crash-prevention technology.