2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen had completely revamped the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing a second generation of its compact crossover SUV. This redesign addressed the original Tiguan’s small size and high price, making it more competitive against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The 2020 Tiguan maintained a stylish and conservatively German exterior, with a horizontal grille and clean lines. However, the interior showed signs of cost-cutting, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic, making it less impressive than previous Volkswagen interiors. The focus had shifted to electronics, with an optional digital dashboard and a glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, on the other hand, made its presence known through its unique sound and appearance. Aside from a “4xe” badge and blue accents, it looked similar to a regular Wrangler, with the addition of a power port at the left base of the windshield. When running on electric power, the Wrangler 4xe was silent except for the pedestrian notification system, which turned heads as it moved through Yosemite National Park. The interior retained the classic Wrangler look, with some added soft-touch materials and blue seat stitching. The controls were laid out in a functional format, and the interior was better outfitted than previous Wranglers, though it still lacked luxury and refinement.

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 it was only moderately quick due to its weight, which ranged from 3,757 to 3,847 pounds. The Tiguan was a quiet highway cruiser with a well-insulated cabin, though some road noise could filter through on rough surfaces. Its 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 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This setup provided 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Wrangler 4xe to reach 60 mph in six seconds. The battery offered an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving, with a combined efficiency rating of 49 MPGe. When used as a hybrid, the EPA rated its fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe had three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save, allowing drivers to choose between maximizing power, running solely on electric power, or saving battery power for specific situations. The Wrangler 4xe performed well on a weekend road trip to Yosemite, with the battery recharging through regenerative braking during downhill driving.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan offered practicality with its second-row seats that could slide up to seven inches, making the third row more usable. The third row was standard on front-drive models and optional on AWD models. 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 interior felt roomy, with plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats. The abundant glass and seating position made the Tiguan feel larger than it was, appealing to those downsizing from larger SUVs.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe had high door sills and narrow rear doors, making entry and exit challenging for shorter passengers. Once inside, the Wrangler 4xe offered a comfortable driving position with a clear view over the hood and front fenders. The center console had limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat passengers had air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a 115-volt power outlet. Cargo volume measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a maximum of 72.4 cubic feet when the back seat was folded down. The Wrangler’s swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window could make loading cargo difficult in tight spaces.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, 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 and easy to use, with bright colors and graphics. 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, offered a customizable digital instrument panel. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon’s Uconnect infotainment system featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system could overcome wind noise on the freeway. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard allowed for easy monitoring of charging status.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a standard safety package that included forward-collision warning with 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. VW’s Car-Net telematics package connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone, offering remote locking and unlocking, status checks, and vehicle location. The IIHS rated the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick for SEL Premium models with LED headlights, while most Tiguans with halogen headlights received a poor rating.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group (blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors) and the Advanced Safety Group (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights). The IIHS rated the Wrangler’s LED headlights as Marginal and the standard headlights as Poor. The Wrangler received a Marginal rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the vehicle tipping over in two tests. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler Unlimited a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.