2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years, including the addition of Lexus’ trademark spindle grille in 2014 and a textured insert in 2020. The 2021 model didn’t see any new styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior quality lagged behind contemporary expectations.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan boasted clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor, providing a long-wheelbase version that made it nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan’s roomy and accommodating interior comfortably seated four people, with an optional third-row seat expanding capacity to seven, though the third row was best suited for children. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a well-integrated touchscreen infotainment system. However, the presence of hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was reminiscent of older SUVs, with plenty of grunt from the V8 engine, achieving zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. However, its 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers and stopping more challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in low grip, significant body roll, and a less-than-ideal ride quality. Despite these drawbacks, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, standard 4WD with a low range, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added further enhancements, making the GX a formidable off-road vehicle. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with 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 powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbo lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but real-world testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD model. Despite these shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips more enjoyable.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics revealed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel’s odd angle and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small center-console storage bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating for seven, but the third row was best reserved for children due to limited space and difficult access. Cargo space was also limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, and virtually no space with the third row up.

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 and excellent outward visibility, with V-Tex leatherette upholstery that mimicked real leather. The back seat provided 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 configurations, with a usefully shaped cargo space behind it. 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 a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality, with a separate display for time and temperature that looked like a digital clock. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) platform starting with the SE trim. MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and an expanded offering of features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Tiguan’s MIB3 system was an improvement, but had some quirks and subpar voice recognition technology. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line’s nine-speaker Fender premium audio system offered better sound quality. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims also featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, providing an understated approach to technology and information display.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Starting with the SE trim, the Tiguan added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL trim 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’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The parking sensors were helpful but could be overly sensitive. The Tiguan also included Car-Net connected services with features like automatic collision notification and Family Guardian alerts. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a “Top Safety Pick” rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.