2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting including puddle lamps, additional lower body trim, exclusive 20-inch wheels, upgraded interior detailing, and a simulated suede interior headliner. These features made the Calligraphy trim look more luxurious compared to other Palisade versions. The Limited trim, which previously included some of these features, adopted an exterior look similar to the Palisade SEL with the Convenience or Premium option packages. Standard LED headlights were a new addition for models that lacked them in the previous year.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim impressed with a Beige over Navy Blue color scheme, light striated simulated wood trim, and quilted and stitched premium Nappa leather. The simulated suede headliner added to the upscale feel, making the Calligraphy’s cabin appear more expensive than its actual price. This trim level drew mixed reactions for its unconventional styling, but it undeniably looked more luxurious than its price tag suggested.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This understated styling might have seemed boring to some, but it was designed to age well. The Tiguan was also large for its class, nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to its long-wheelbase version.

The Tiguan’s upsizing resulted in a roomy and accommodating interior, with plenty of space for four people and the option to carry five. An optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven, though it was best suited for children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the engine start button’s placement on the center console was unusual. Shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system added a touch of sophistication, but the presence of hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks reminded occupants that this was not an Audi.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a powerful and quiet 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding a Snow mode and a Lock function for improved low-speed traction. The EPA estimated a Palisade AWD would return 21 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg with Smart mode engaged.

Hyundai tuned the Palisade to feel different from the related Kia Telluride, offering a firmer feel and excellent body-motion control. The Palisade communicated well with the driver about road conditions, making it enjoyable to drive without encouraging aggressive behavior. It was undemanding to drive in typical scenarios, with plenty of power, easy corner judgment, and agreeable steering and brake modulation. The Palisade’s 5,000-pound towing capacity was supported by a new seven-pin trailer pre-wiring connector for 2021.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as a $1,400 option on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing maneuvers or freeway entry.

The EPA estimated the Tiguan would return 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. Our test vehicle averaged 22.6 mpg, indicating no clear fuel economy reward for the drivetrain’s laggardly response. Despite this, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking action, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners, encouraging slower driving. The Tiguan was remarkably quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior size, seating, and accessibility. It offered eight-way power-adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger, with additional thigh support for the driver and a heated steering wheel. The front seats and second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, while third-row passengers had separate climate controls and rear side-window sunshades. The seats provided good support for long drives, and the second-row captain’s chairs offered plenty of legroom and support.

The Palisade’s third-row seat was more accommodating than most in its class, with easy access via tilting and sliding captain’s chairs. In-cabin storage was plentiful, especially in the front center console and door panels. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate was a convenient feature, though it could be turned off if not needed.

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, ensuring proper support and excellent visibility. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control system was effective. Back-seat space was generous, with excellent occupant support, 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. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the SUV had the optional third-row seat. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet. Storage space was limited, with a slot forward of the shifter serving as the wireless smartphone charger, but the Tiguan’s cargo area was usefully shaped with deep wells for carrying items.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Both systems could pair two smartphones to Bluetooth simultaneously, but only the 8-inch setup offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Calligraphy trim included SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, Blue Link connected services, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Other features included wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, Quiet Mode, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim. MIB3 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. 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 better option.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and multiple lane-keeping systems. A rear occupant alert system was standard, with a more sophisticated ultrasonic version on higher trims. Most Palisades included active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, as well as Safe Exit Assist. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a Blind View Monitor. Highway Drive Assist was a standout feature, providing smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA and included three years of Blue Link services for automatic collision notification.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with IQ Drive, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available starting with the SE trim, and the SEL added 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’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The parking sensors and reversing camera were helpful, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. Car-Net connected services provided additional safety features, and the Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.