2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Kia Sportage

In 2021, the Kia Sportage presented an interesting visual challenge with its unique design. Featuring Kia’s tiger-nose grille and somewhat bulbous headlights, it elicited mixed reactions. Some described the look as frog-like, while Kia labeled it as "Euro-focused." Despite differing opinions, the Sportage was a stylish two-row crossover SUV with a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it well-suited for city driving.

The headlights carried over from the previous year, and buyers had the option to equip the Sportage with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, the 2021 Sportage showcased an 8-inch touchscreen display at the center, flanked by air vents on either side. Physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume were conveniently located below the screen, ensuring an intuitive user experience. Cupholders were positioned between the front seats, and the steering wheel featured Kia’s now-outdated logo. While the interior didn’t scream technological advancement or high fashion, it remained a pleasant environment.

Conversely, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was designed with an emphasis on clean lines and balanced proportions. Its understated styling might have seemed bland to some, but it embodied a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic that promised to age gracefully. Notably larger for its class, the Tiguan corrected past sizing issues with this second-generation model by adding a long-wheelbase version that nearly matched the interior dimensions of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

The benefit of its size resulted in a roomy interior that comfortably accommodated four people, though it could carry five if needed. Additionally, a small, optional third-row seat extended passenger capacity to seven, but three of those would realistically need to be children. True to its German heritage, the Tiguan blended modern geometric forms with pragmatic, no-nonsense controls, albeit with some oddities, like the engine start button’s unexpected placement on the center console. The Tiguan's interior featured shiny details, digital instrumentation, and an integrated touchscreen plan. Despite its sophistication, it was not on par with an Audi, mainly due to excessive hard plastics and slightly flimsy steering wheel stalks.

In 2021, the Kia Sportage offered potential buyers three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX Turbo, each available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were equipped with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Opting for the SX Turbo trim delivered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, generating 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All trims utilized a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy varied based on the configuration. The FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine managed 23 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway, and 26 combined. Adding AWD dropped these numbers to 21/25/23. Turbo models saw lower efficiencies, with FWD getting 20/28/23 and AWD at 19/24/21. With McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, the Sportage offered a smooth ride with minimal body roll. The steering lacked a tactile connection, and the tires sometimes struggled to grip under the engine’s power. However, particularly in the SX Turbo trim, the Sportage remained a rewarding drive for those who enjoyed a bit of sportiness.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, featured a single powertrain across all trims: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, defaulting to FWD with an optional 4Motion AWD available for most trims, and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line.

While the Tiguan’s performance was adequate, it exhibited noticeable turbo lag, resulting in delayed responses when accelerated. This lag, coupled with the test model’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight, contributed to a perception of sluggishness, especially during passing maneuvers or freeway entry. The EPA rated the 2021 Tiguan at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD. During real-world testing, the Tiguan AWD averaged 22.6 mpg.

Despite these shortcomings, the Tiguan provided a pleasing driving experience characterized by light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling, which suited urban and suburban settings. However, sharp speed bumps and railroad tracks exposed some suspension flaws. While it couldn’t match the sporty VW GTI, the Tiguan’s quiet and composed highway demeanor made long journeys relaxing.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, though compact, offered good interior space. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, along with heated and ventilated seats for added comfort. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, although cargo space lagged behind rivals. The Sportage provided 30.7 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with rear seats folded—a capacity that wasn’t competitive within the segment.

Conversely, the Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in interior comfort and space. Large doors and high seating positions made ingress and egress easy, while the front seats offered substantial adjustment for better support and visibility. The Tiguan featured convincing V-Tex leatherette upholstery and an effective dual-zone climate control system. Rear-seated passengers benefited from ample legroom, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. Even the tallest passengers found comfort without worry, thanks to the soft front seatback material.

The Tiguan’s 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed versatile cargo and passenger configurations. Depending on the inclusion of the third-row seat, cargo volume ranged between 33 and 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and between 65.7 and 73.5 cubic feet in total. The rear storage areas were well-designed, including deep side wells for secure storage of smaller items.

In the area of technology, the 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface supporting the infotainment system. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports. Higher trims benefitted from Kia's UVO Link connected services, wireless charging, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. While not groundbreaking, the technology was user-friendly and avoided frustrating the driver with its logical menus and physical buttons.

Volkswagen made notable tech upgrades in the 2021 Tiguan, including the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) platform. Starting with the SE trim, MIB3 offered an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Additionally, the Car-Net connected services suite included remote engine start, automatic crash notifications, and several safety features tailored for teen drivers.

During testing, the MIB3 system presented some quirks in the user interface and subpar voice recognition. The standard six-speaker audio system struggled with sound quality, though the SEL Premium R-Line trim's nine-speaker Fender premium audio was a notable improvement. Overall, the technology enhanced the Tiguan’s user experience but fell short in certain areas.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety with a robust list of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim also offered adaptive cruise control. This emphasis on safety earned the SX Turbo a Top Safety Pick title from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), supplemented by strong crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with the IQ Drive suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Starting with the SE trim, adaptive cruise control was added, while the SEL trim included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line also featured automatic high-beam headlights and parking sensors. While the adaptive cruise control performed well, it was slow to react when the situation cleared. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent.

The Tiguan came with a standard reversing camera and an optional surround-view system on higher trims. Additionally, Car-Net services offered extensive safety features, including automatic collision notification and Family Guardian alerts. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick rating for SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims with LED headlights, though NHTSA had not provided complete crash-test results.