2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, characterized by circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. Despite these variations, the core elements that made a Wrangler unmistakable on the road remained intact. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort but rather for a rugged driving experience. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and manually adjusted seats added to its charm for the right type of driver.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. The Tiguan was large for its class, providing a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and an optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a purposeful control layout, although it had more hard plastic than one might find in a luxury vehicle. The Tiguan's design was understated but functional, with a focus on comfort and practicality.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Wrangler's various 4WD systems, including Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, made it a formidable off-road vehicle.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with 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 turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but real-world testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Sky one-touch power top, featured on the Rubicon 392, provided a convenient way to enjoy the open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat offered excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo and passenger configurations. 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, and maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel.

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, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender audio system offered a superior listening experience.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with IQ Drive, which included 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. 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 in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.