2024 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it incorporated angular headlights that aligned it with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a more rugged and adventure-ready feel, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, while also offering modern features like 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan exuded a premium appearance, often perceived as more upscale than its non-European competitors. The SEL R-Line trim we tested featured LED headlights and taillights, an illuminated grille light line, and silver roof rails, enhancing its stylish exterior. The base Tiguan S was limited to grayscale colors, while higher trims offered more vibrant options like Atlantic Blue and Kings Red Metallic, albeit with specific interior color pairings. The Tiguan's interior was marked by firm seating and a two-row configuration in AWD models, providing ample cargo space. The SEL R-Line trim boasted real leather upholstery, front-seat ventilation, and a heated steering wheel, contributing to its luxurious feel.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly with features like the adaptive air suspension system and Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. The AWD system slightly impacted fuel economy, reducing the base Tiguan S from 27 to 25 mpg combined. Our experience with the Tiguan SEL R-Line revealed inconsistent power delivery, with turbo and transmission lag in some scenarios. The steering was light and rubbery, but visibility and handling were commendable, making the vehicle feel more maneuverable. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the firm seating surfaces drew some complaints.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity also varied, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 provided up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it practical and easy to clean.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's seating was firm, with the AWD models offering a two-row configuration, providing 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, or 73.4 with the rear seats folded. The three-row Tiguan, available in FWD models, offered 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 with it folded, and 65.3 with only the front seats in position. Passenger space was ample, with up to 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom in the front. The second row offered 38.7 inches of legroom, while the third row, if equipped, was tighter with 33.8 inches of headroom and 27.9 inches of legroom. Despite the compact size, the Tiguan was one of the few in its class to offer a third row.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, was refreshingly simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup, aided by home buttons, provided a blend of refinement and utility.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan's infotainment system included haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to operate. However, the physical volume knob was less user-friendly due to its sensitive on/off button integration. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Tiguan S had a 6.5-inch touchscreen and two USB-C ports, while higher trims offered four ports and wireless charging. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the SEL R-Line featuring a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System on the SEL R-Line received positive feedback.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and for 2024, Volkswagen's IQ.DRIVE suite of driver-assistance features became standard. This included adaptive cruise control with stop and go capabilities, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Additional standard safety features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic post-collision braking system, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. Park Distance Control became standard at the SE R-Line Black trim level, though its Maneuver Braking feature was found to be intrusive.