2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan, redesigned in 2018, presented a stylish yet conservative German exterior, maintaining a clean and simple design with a horizontal grille and flat logo. Despite its appealing exterior, the interior was less impressive, featuring plain and dull surfaces with hard black plastic. The focus seemed to shift towards electronics, with an optional digital dashboard and a glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system standing out as highlights.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a more futuristic design with a conventional styling option for those who preferred it. The interior boasted a modern and attractive dash design, seamlessly integrating tech features. The Tucson's layout was user-friendly, with easily accessible buttons and dials. It came in various trims, each adding more features, from the base SE with a 7-inch touchscreen to the Ultimate trim with an 8-inch touchscreen and panoramic sunroof.

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 both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite its size and weight, the Tiguan provided a snappy throttle response and minimal turbo lag, though it was not the fastest in its class. The Tiguan's handling was comfortable, with a soft suspension and a longer wheelbase, making it less nimble but a quiet highway cruiser.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured two engine options: a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 161 horsepower and a 2.4-liter engine with 181 horsepower. Both engines came with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The base engine felt underwhelming, but the 2.4-liter engine offered a livelier performance. The Tucson provided a comfortable and refined ride, balancing softness and athleticism. It had a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in practicality, with a second row of seats that could slide up to seven inches, making the third row more usable. The third row, though not spacious, was suitable for shorter adults or children. The Tiguan offered a cargo capacity of 65.7 cubic feet with the third row collapsed and 73.5 cubic feet in two-row models. The front seats provided ample hip and shoulder room, and the abundant glass made the Tiguan feel roomier.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While not the largest in its class, it offered adequate space for everyday needs. The Tucson's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with solid headroom and legroom. The rear seats were accommodating for adults, and the interior featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen in the base trim and an 8-inch upgrade in higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with bright colors and a responsive processor. The Tiguan offered a digital cockpit on top trims, customizable and reconfigurable, along with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an 8-inch upgrade available. The system was intuitive, with logical menu layouts and hard buttons for ease of use. Additional features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging, enhancing the Tucson's tech offerings.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan improved its standard safety package with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. However, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance were reserved for top trims. The Tiguan earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for SEL Premium models with LED headlights.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a comprehensive list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Upper trims added features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.