2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. While some might have found its understated styling boring, it was designed to age well. The Tiguan was large for its class, nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to its long-wheelbase version. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior, accommodating up to seven passengers, though the third-row seat was best suited for children and was optional with AWD models.

Inside, the Tiguan combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, typical of German automakers. The cabin featured shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants. Pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The test vehicle, an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, was priced at $35,040, including the destination charge.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a sight for sore eyes after a restless redeye flight. The Platinum trim was the most luxurious version, capping a lineup that started with the XL STX and included the XLT, Limited, and King Ranch. The test vehicle, left at the airport, featured Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, an electronic limited-slip differential, and second-row captain’s chairs, totaling $80,510, including a $1,695 destination charge.

Despite its plush and roomy interior, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum boasted an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch wheels, and brightwork, making it a good-looking vehicle. The extended-length MAX version would have solved the cargo issue, offering more space. The Expedition’s leather-lined cabin, with parts from the previous-generation F-150, provided comfort, though hard plastic reminded of its origins. For a more luxurious interior, the Lincoln Navigator was a better option.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 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, with 4Motion AWD available for an additional $1,400 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 or freeway merging. The test model’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception.

The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. During testing, the AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite the powertrain’s shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled over sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. On curvy roads, the Tiguan’s tires lost grip early, and the suspension allowed too much body motion, encouraging slower driving. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and RWD or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist, allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob.

Acceleration was impressive, even with a full load, and the twin-turbo V6 emitted a pleasant engine note. The transmission was smooth, and the steering and brakes performed as expected. The Platinum’s 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin, but the four-wheel independent suspension kept the SUV stable. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, but the test vehicle did not have this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg during testing, with the EPA rating the 4WD model at 19 mpg combined.

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 was effective. 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 arrangements, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.5 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with power-deploying running boards and large, wide seats for all passengers. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position. Storage was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and up to 104.6 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition MAX offered even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim. MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The system had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line had a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Both the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2021 Ford Expedition used the aging Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite its age, Sync 3 offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, FordPass Connect, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and navigation. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also included. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and wireless smartphone charging. An available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system offered additional features for rear passengers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with IQ Drive, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. 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 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, but the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with its substantial curb weight, had a safety advantage. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover-resistance rating, and the 4WD model had a four-star rating. Standard Ford Co-Pilot360 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Limited trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a semi-autonomous parking assistance system.