2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced and rebadged GM vehicles. The Enclave stood out as the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offering a luxurious and spacious option for consumers. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave's pricing ranged from just over $41,000 to just under $55,000. The Avenir trim, in particular, added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium appeal.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, with organic forms and polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment included soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was initially fussy but became intuitive with use. Overall, the Enclave's design and interior aimed to blend luxury with practicality.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, offered clean lines and balanced proportions, resulting in a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor, providing a roomy interior nearly as spacious as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan's design was understated but elegant, with a focus on functionality and comfort.

Inside, the Tiguan featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout. The cabin's somber tones were brightened by shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, the use of hard plastics and flimsy steering wheel stalks detracted from its premium feel. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants. Pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, with our test vehicle, an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, priced at $35,040.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's nine-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth shifts, and the FWD model allowed for momentary tire spin before traction control intervened. Our test vehicle, priced at $57,090, included the Avenir Technology Package, which enhanced the suspension and added advanced safety features. The Enclave's suspension provided a comfortable and composed ride across various driving conditions, and the steering and brake response were well-tuned. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and our testing confirmed an average of 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as an option. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, resulting in delayed acceleration. The nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to a sense of lethargy during passing maneuvers. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but our testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling. However, the suspension struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and the tires lacked grip during enthusiastic driving. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making it suitable for long road trips.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat offered 10-way adjustments. Both seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The Enclave's center console provided comfortable padding and storage options, and the second-row captain's chairs and third-row bench seat offered generous space. The Enclave's third-row seat was roomy and easy to access, and the cargo area provided 23.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 97.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.

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 visibility, with V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicking real leather. The back seat provided generous legroom and foot space, along with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo and passenger configurations, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Storage space was limited, but the available panoramic sunroof added to the cabin's airy feel.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, voice recognition, and a user-friendly interface. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. However, the Enclave's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and it lacked integration with smart home digital assistants. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was also underwhelming compared to competitors. The available rear camera mirror provided a useful live video feed of the rear view.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features. Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a range of Car-Net connected services. The MIB3 system was an improvement, but 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 offered better performance. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims also featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were effective but limited in availability. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available starting with the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors, was standard on Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. The NHTSA awarded the Enclave a five-star overall rating, though frontal-impact protection received four stars. The IIHS gave high marks but rated the headlights as Marginal, preventing a Top Safety Pick accolade.

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. 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 adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan's parking sensors and automatic braking could be overly sensitive. The standard reversing camera provided a clear view, and the SEL Premium R-Line offered a top-down surround-view. Car-Net connected services included automatic collision notification, emergency calling, 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.