2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen had completely revamped the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, launching a second generation of its compact crossover SUV. This redesign addressed the original Tiguan’s small size and high price, making it more competitive against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The 2020 Tiguan maintained a stylish and conservatively German exterior, but closer inspection revealed some cost-cutting measures. The clean lines and horizontal grille with VW’s new flat logo gave it a contemporary look, but the interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. The optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights, offering a modern, smartphone-like appeal.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, previously known as the second-generation Lincoln MKX, had undergone a facelift in 2019 and was renamed. The 2021 model retained its attractive exterior but featured a refreshed cabin with a sharp new dash design, clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The “Piano Key” shifter-button layout was unconventional but user-friendly. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was easy to use, with a glossy screen that reflected the bright work in the center console. The Nautilus offered trims like Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each with increasing levels of luxury and features, including a twin-turbo V6 engine and advanced driver-assistance features.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine drove either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan’s powertrain offered a snappy throttle response with minimal turbo lag, but its larger size and weight made it only moderately quick. The Tiguan’s handling was impacted by its longer wheelbase, making it less nimble than some competitors. However, its soft suspension ensured a comfortable driving experience, even on rough roads. The Tiguan was a quiet highway cruiser, with a well-insulated cabin that muted engine and wind noise.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, producing 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complementing the adaptive suspension that nearly eliminated bumps in the road. The Nautilus was firm and planted through corners, offering a composed driving experience. The engine stop-start feature conserved fuel but caused a slight delay in response when accelerating from a stop.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in practicality, with a second row of seats that could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row more usable. Front-drive Tiguans came with a standard third row, while AWD models were five-seaters with an optional third row. The third row had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. The split second-row seats folded flat, providing 65.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row collapsed, and 73.5 cubic feet in two-row models. The Tiguan’s wide beam offered plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats, making it feel as roomy as many midsize SUVs.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom in the rear seats. The front seats were especially comfortable, with available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The soft-touch center console and door handles added to the comfort. The Nautilus also had a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage, along with a floating center controls design that allowed for additional storage.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, while SE and higher trims had an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a glass surface, bright colors, and a speedy processor. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port, while higher trims had two USB-A ports in the front and one in the second row. A wireless charging pad was available on trims above S. VW’s Digital Cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel, was available on top SEL trims, offering a customizable display. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were well-presented on the large screen, with no barriers to entry. The available wireless charging pad made phone and car integration seamless. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. The Nautilus’s infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan had an improved standard safety package, including forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, features like adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. All models came with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app. The IIHS rated the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick for top-of-the-line SEL Premium models with LED headlights, while most Tiguans with halogen headlights received a poor rating.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with the standard CoPilot360 package, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light scenarios.