2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's high-quality craftsmanship, fitting seamlessly into the brand's true SUV range. Its design, from the iconic kidney grille to the body shape, was unmistakably BMW, though this sameness could make it blend in with other BMWs in a crowded parking lot. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights, with xLine models sporting matte aluminum grilles and satin aluminum finishes for an upscale look. M Sport models added a sporty flair with body-color matched trims and high-gloss black accents. Wheel options ranged from 19 to 22 inches, depending on the trim. Inside, the X5's interior was familiar, with switches, dials, and displays borrowed from other BMW models. Despite an abundance of black plastic, the cabin was filled with leather and soft-touch materials, with M Sport models offering unique, aggressive styling elements.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, boasted clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was larger than its predecessor, nearly matching the interior space of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior, comfortably accommodating four people, with an optional third-row seat expanding capacity to seven, though best suited for children. The Tiguan's interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with shiny detailing and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, it had more hard plastic than an Audi, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a variety of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, achieving 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M offered 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, producing 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's driving dynamics were somewhat disappointing, with steering issues at both low and high speeds, and a lack of the connected drive experience BMW is known for. However, the cabin was quiet, and the suspension absorbed road imperfections well. The X5 xDrive45e took five hours to charge on a Level 2 charger and offered an EPA-estimated 400 miles of driving range. Fuel efficiency varied, with the X5 M achieving 15 mpg combined, the X5 M50i at 18 mpg, the X5 xDrive at 23 mpg, and the X5 xDrive45e at 20 mpg combined or 50 MPGe with electric power.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 4Motion AWD system was optional on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers or when extra power was needed. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with cupholders positioned at the front of the center console and a wireless phone charging pad out of the driver's line of sight. The seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, though the front seats felt hard after a few hours. The rear seats were comfortable for kids and two adults, with an optional third row available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo easy. The X5's cargo area was spacious, though slightly less so in the xDrive45e model. However, the rear doors did not open very wide, making it difficult to move children and cargo in and out.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort, with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy entry and exit. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, and the V-Tex leatherette upholstery provided good support and visibility. The back seat was spacious, with excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space. Passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and soft front seatback material. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo and passenger arrangements, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet. However, storage space was limited, with a tricky-to-access wireless smartphone charger slot.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features. These included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services with remote engine starting, automatic crash notification, and Family Guardian settings. The MIB3 system was an improvement, though the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system were lacking. The SEL Premium R-Line featured a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, offering an understated approach to technology and information display.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package had issues with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems, particularly in sunny or rainy conditions. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being the subject of seven recalls.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and the SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan's parking sensors and reversing camera provided clear views, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, though the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.