2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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 biggest shortcoming—its diminutive size—and aimed to make it more competitively priced against rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The result was a vehicle that maintained a stylish and conservatively German exterior, but showed some evidence of cost-cutting upon closer inspection.

The Tiguan's exterior styling was contemporary Volkswagen, featuring clean and simple lines with a new flat logo on a horizontal grille that connected the headlights. The design was straightforward, avoiding any adventurous or cartoonish elements. Inside, however, the Tiguan's interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. While the optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights, the overall cockpit design felt simplified and somewhat boring.

The Range Rover Sport launched in 2005 and was still in its second generation as of 2021. The current generation, which arrived for the 2014 model year, received an interior and exterior refresh for 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console that became a hallmark of Land Rover interiors. The 2020 model year saw the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant and the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Range Rover Sport offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian premium sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system. Higher trims added features like quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The HSE Dynamic trim featured a supercharged V8 engine, while the Autobiography trim offered high-end luxury features like 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR performance model included a more powerful V8 engine, sport seats, and a stiffer suspension, with the SVR Carbon Edition adding carbon fiber accents and 22-inch alloy wheels.

All 2020 Volkswagen Tiguans were 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 was tuned for torque rather than horsepower, providing a snappy throttle response with minimal turbo lag. However, the Tiguan's larger size and weight—3,757 pounds for front-wheel drive and 3,847 pounds for all-wheel drive—meant it was only moderately quick. The automatic transmission downshifted smoothly, but passing on the highway with a fully loaded Tiguan required patience.

The Tiguan's engine was relatively quiet, with a deep and refined sound at high revs. The cabin was well-insulated from wind noise, making it a quiet highway cruiser, though some road noise could filter through on rough surfaces. The Tiguan's handling was impacted by its larger size and longer wheelbase, making it less nimble than some competitors. The suspension was soft, providing a comfortable ride even on rough roads. The Tiguan's steering firmed up in sport mode but remained too light in normal mode.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered several powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent version of this powertrain, the P400, rated at 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The HSE Silver Edition was available with plug-in hybrid or diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid producing 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 making 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.

The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition trims received a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. All Range Rover Sport models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. The Range Rover Sport also featured height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system with multiple modes for different driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport was capable off-road and provided impressive cornering abilities on paved surfaces. Most variants could tow up to 7,716 pounds, with the SVR capable of towing 6,613 pounds.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan offered practicality with its second row of seats, which could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row more useful. The third row had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. Front-drive Tiguans came with the third row as standard, while all-wheel-drive models were standard five-seaters with the third row available as a $595 option. The main issue with the third row was the low cushion position relative to the floor, but it was still roomier than many third rows in larger vehicles. The second-row seats folded flat, providing 65.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row collapsed. Two-row Tiguans offered 73.5 cubic feet of cargo space, more than many compact SUVs but slightly less than the Honda CR-V.

The Tiguan's driver's seat felt as roomy as many midsize SUVs, with plenty of hip and shoulder room. The Tiguan's wide beam and abundant glass made it feel larger than it was, which could be a desirable feature for those downsizing from a larger SUV or a drawback for those trading up from a smaller vehicle.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. The Range Rover Sport also offered an optional third row of seating, increasing seating capacity from five to seven. With the third row in use, it provided 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space. While these cargo figures were good for a road trip or extra bags, there were more spacious options available. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, combining space with luxurious appointments. The optional third row was very tight and best suited for children.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment software, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The current system was already one of the best on the market, with the base S trim using a 6.5-inch touchscreen display. Higher trims featured an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a glass surface, bright colors, and a speedy processor. 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. A wireless charging pad was available on trims above S. VW’s Digital Cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel, was available on top SEL trims and could be customized to display a panoramic map. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by the dual-screen center console. The lower screen operated climate controls and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system was not always intuitive, and earlier models had bugs. The lower screen featured dials that controlled multiple functions, including fan speed, temperature, and off-road settings. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for switching between menus and accessing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport also had a real volume button, though it was tucked down by the base of the lower screen. Overall, the infotainment system had a learning curve, and while it was not the worst on the market, there were better systems available.

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. However, features like adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. VW equipped all 2020 Tiguan models with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app. Complimentary features were available for five years and included remote locking and unlocking, status checks of the doors and windows, and vehicle location. Additional functionality came with an upgraded infotainment system, and navigation-equipped Tiguans could receive real-time parking information and points of interest from an owner’s phone. Car-Net also enabled roadside assistance and geofencing services for teen driver monitoring. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not crash-tested the Tiguan, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated it a Top Safety Pick for top-of-the-line SEL Premium models with LED headlights.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Other available driver assistance features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.