2021 Nissan Murano 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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained this contemporary styling with clean and simple lines, featuring a horizontal grille that connected the headlights. The design was conservatively German, with no adventurous or cartoonish elements. Inside, however, the Tiguan's interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. The cockpit was simple, bordering on boring, though the optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, once a cutting-edge design, had become more mainstream with its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end. The interior and dash design remained conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use. The Murano's cabin was designed for convenience, with controls placed intuitively. The trims ranged from the base S with standard features like an 8-inch touchscreen and dual-zone climate control, to the top Platinum trim with premium leather and a panoramic moonroof.

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 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 size, the Tiguan offered a snappy throttle response and minimal turbo lag, though highway passing required patience. 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, with a longer wheelbase making it less nimble. The suspension was soft, ensuring a comfortable ride even on rough roads.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, though the CVT numbed some of its power at higher speeds. The Murano had a comfort-first ride, with refined driving characteristics that allowed it to take corners evenly while soaking up bumps. The Murano's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds, among the lowest in its class.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in practicality, starting with its second row of seats that could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row useful. Front-drive Tiguans came with a third row, while AWD models were standard five-seaters with the third row as an option. The third row had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. 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 front seats offered plenty of hip and shoulder room, and the abundant glass made the cabin feel spacious.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 32.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. While other two-row SUVs offered more cargo space, the Murano made up for it with ease of use. The cabin was designed to accommodate everyday items, with a traditional shifter and a center console loaded with trays and cubbies. The Murano focused on two rows of seating, providing ample headroom and legroom in both the front and second rows. The second-row seats even had partial reclining functionality.

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, while higher trims had an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a glass surface and bright 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 was available on top SEL trims, offering a customizable digital instrument panel. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a sensible menu layout with hard buttons and dials. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

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. 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 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 Nissan Murano came with standard driver assistance features as part of Nissan Safety Shield 360, including reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Other standard features included forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors.