2021 Honda HR-V vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, which some might have found boring, but it had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic that was likely to age well. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to a long-wheelbase version. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior with plenty of space for four people, and the optional third-row seat expanded capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the engine start button's location on the center console was unusual. The cabin had shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen display, but it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs. It was distinctive with details like upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights, housing the rear door handles. Most trims had 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Sport model featuring matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. The interior was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. EX and EX-L models had push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with EX-L models also getting leather upholstery.

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 by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available for $1,400 on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing or freeway merging. The Tiguan’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD model. Despite these drawbacks, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. It was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters on higher trims. AWD was available on all trims, with FWD standard. The powertrain was unchanged from previous models and felt underpowered for highway driving, compounded by an ineffective CVT. Competitors offered more powerful engine options. However, the HR-V’s chassis made up for its engine, providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. It was essentially a lifted, enlarged subcompact hatchback, which limited its capabilities compared to traditional SUVs. The AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not rough terrain, and the HR-V was not rated for towing.

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 for proper support and visibility, with perforated V-Tex leatherette upholstery and effective dual-zone climate control. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, allowing for long items and four passengers. Cargo space ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. Folding the seat down provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), while leaving it up retained 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures surpassed many competitors. The HR-V also excelled in rear-seat legroom, leading the segment, though front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The interior had sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, making it simple and easy to use. A standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel helped find the perfect driving position.

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 for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The MIB3 system was an improvement, though the user interface had quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line’s nine-speaker Fender audio system was a better option. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line also featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The base 2021 Honda HR-V LX had standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport trim and higher levels had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was small compared to competitors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard across all trims.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came 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. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights. 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 standard reversing camera provided a clear view, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. Car-Net connected services offered additional safety features like 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, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech, but had “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. Honda Sensing safety features were available only on EX and EX-L trims, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda’s LaneWatch. The rearview camera was upgraded with dynamic gridlines on higher trims.