2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. It shared its underpinnings with the Jeep Compass, but its design was distinctively rugged. The Renegade's 2019 refresh carried over into 2021, with some previously optional features becoming standard. Inside, the Renegade offered a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack reminiscent of the Wrangler, making controls easily accessible. It came in various trims, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each offering unique features and equipment.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan boasted clean lines and balanced proportions, presenting a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was larger than its predecessor, offering a roomy interior comparable to the Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan's interior was spacious, accommodating up to seven passengers with an optional third-row seat. Its design featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, though some materials felt less premium. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding destination charges.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better torque and refinement. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with good cornering stability and maneuverability, making it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road capabilities, was the only "Trail Rated" model, featuring a terrain management system and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and 4Motion AWD as an option. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbo lag, and its nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to a perception of lethargy. The Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking. However, its suspension struggled over sharp bumps, and its tires lacked grip in corners. The Tiguan excelled in highway comfort, providing a quiet and composed ride.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with them in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom, and the front seats offered great legroom. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including foldable front passenger seats for added versatility.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort, with large doors and tall seating for easy access. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, and the back seat provided excellent support and legroom. The Tiguan's interior featured perforated V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control. It had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, allowing for flexible cargo and passenger arrangements. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet, depending on the third-row seat option.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system, available from the SE trim. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line offered a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Both the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made several safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. However, the Trailhawk trim lacked emergency braking. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive suite 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 and lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.