2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Buick Encore GX

The 2021 Buick Encore GX was praised for its stylish design, which was a significant improvement over the original Encore. The SUV came in three trim levels: Preferred, Select, and Essence, with an optional Sport Touring (ST) package available for all trims. Buyers could choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), with two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter for FWD and a 1.3-liter for both FWD and AWD. Pricing ranged from $24,200 to $30,600, with our test model, an Essence trim with the 1.3-liter engine, priced at $35,065. Despite its high price, Buick offered significant discounts for GM customers and attractive lease deals for non-GM owners. The interior quality was typical for the small SUV segment, but the design had some flaws, such as hard-to-read analog gauges and a vibrating head-up display (HUD).

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, featured clean lines and balanced proportions, giving it a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was larger than its predecessor, offering a roomy interior with space for up to seven passengers, though the third row was best suited for children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though some materials felt cheap. The Tiguan came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants available. Pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, with our test model, an SEL with 4Motion AWD, priced at $35,040. The Tiguan's interior was well-appointed, but the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy, and there was too much hard plastic for a truly premium feel.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The standard 1.2-liter engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while the 1.3-liter engine delivered 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The larger engine was available with both FWD and AWD. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite its turbocharged engines, the Encore GX's performance was described as adequate, with a noticeable lack of refinement. The ride quality was inconsistent, and the interior noise levels were higher than expected for a premium brand. Fuel economy averaged 28.2 mpg, falling short of the EPA estimate.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD available as an option. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbo lag, making it feel sluggish in certain driving situations. The nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. Fuel economy was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but our test model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking. However, it struggled with suspension isolation over sharp bumps and lacked the sporty handling of Volkswagen's GTI.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX had supportive front seats with power adjustments and heating, but the rear seats were less comfortable, especially for taller passengers. Interior storage was good, with a trunk capacity of 23.5 cubic feet, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle featured a hands-free power liftgate and a fold-flat front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in comfort, with easy entry and exit, adjustable front seats, and effective climate control. The back seat offered generous legroom and foot space, along with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan's cargo space ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether it had the optional third-row seat. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and levers in the cargo area made it easy to carry long items and fold the rear seatbacks flat.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX Essence came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The test vehicle also had a navigation system, natural voice recognition, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a high-definition surround-view camera. Despite these features, it lacked the available 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick response times and intuitive controls.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system also included Car-Net connected services with remote engine starting and Family Guardian settings. However, the voice recognition technology was subpar, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX came standard with Buick Driver Confidence, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, and adaptive cruise control was available. The Encore GX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but had not been tested by the IIHS.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured IQ Drive, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was standard on higher trims, and the SEL Premium R-Line added automatic high-beam headlights and parking sensors. The Tiguan's adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, but the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.