2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign, following two consecutive years of facelifts in 2019 and 2020. This two-row compact crossover, available in China and North America, was positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick’s lineup. The 2021 Envision was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a solid premium crossover styling that gave it a more planted appearance. It featured three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir models were equipped with upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern with leather-appointed seating.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was praised for its clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor by adding a long-wheelbase version, making it nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan’s upsizing resulted in a roomy and accommodating interior, with an optional third-row seat expanding passenger capacity to seven. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a purposeful control layout, though it had more hard plastic than one might find in an Audi. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants adding design and equipment upgrades.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was a downgrade from the previous model’s 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision’s weight savings did not fully compensate for the power loss. The Envision offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. Fuel efficiency improved slightly, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. However, the Envision’s acceleration and deceleration were noisy, and its drivability was more akin to a Lincoln than a sportier Mazda.

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 a $1,400 option 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. The Tiguan’s fuel economy was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD models and 24 mpg for AWD models, though real-world testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD version. Despite its powertrain shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks.

The 2021 Buick Envision’s redesign did not improve its cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger’s access to controls, and the abundance of piano black plastic attracted dust. However, the Envision offered standard heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in comfort and space. Large doors and tall seating hip points made entry and exit easy, and the front seats offered a wide range of adjustments. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. 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 up to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. Storage space was limited, but the Tiguan’s overall interior comfort and functionality were impressive.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, responsive to touch and displaying necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could use an available 8.0-inch driver information display for quicker access to information. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the voice recognition technology was lacking, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line’s nine-speaker Fender audio system was a notable upgrade.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with IQ Drive, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. SE trims and above added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS for SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, thanks to high-performing LED headlights.