2021 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing an all-new second generation of its compact crossover SUV. The 2020 Tiguan maintained this contemporary Volkswagen styling with clean and simple lines, a horizontal grille, and the new flat logo. However, the interior was less impressive, featuring dull surfaces and hard black plastic, a far cry from Volkswagen's previous reputation for superior interiors. The optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights, but overall, the cabin felt plain and uninspired.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, on the other hand, was a visual standout. Its exterior styling drew comparisons to the Lamborghini Urus, with a wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, and an aggressive front end. The Blazer's design was bold and memorable, with various trim levels offering unique grille designs and customization options. However, the interior did not match the exterior's excitement. It was predominantly black, with featureless seats and downmarket plastic materials, which felt inappropriate for its price range. Despite these shortcomings, the Blazer's exterior design and customization options made it a head-turner.

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 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, with the base 2.5-liter inline-four being underpowered and noisy. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, produced 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The preferred engine was the 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim, delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The RS trim also featured a sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering, providing a more engaging driving experience. However, the transmission calibration had several issues, including slow responses and a convoluted manual mode. The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 achieving 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

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 standard with a third row, while AWD models offered it as an option. The third row was not spacious but provided enough legroom for shorter adults and children. The split second-row seats folded flat, offering 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 and abundant glass made the interior feel roomy, comparable to midsize SUVs.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. The low roof height did not impact interior space, as the seats were mounted lower into the floor. However, sightlines were poor due to the design, though large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror cameras helped improve visibility. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. The Blazer's trailering package allowed it to tow up to 4,500 pounds with the V6 engine and AWD configuration. The interior featured simple and handy controls, such as movable rings around the front air vents for temperature adjustments and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The current system was already one of the best on the market, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display on the base S trim and an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen on higher trims. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port, while higher trims had two USB-A ports and a wireless charging pad. VW's Digital Cockpit, available on top SEL trims, offered a fully digital instrument panel that could be customized and reconfigured. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added wireless phone charging, a rear camera washer, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. The "Plus" version of the infotainment system included navigation with traffic, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and better voice recognition. Unique GM features included the ability to upload settings to a GM cloud account, an app store, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Standard driver assists on most trims included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

For the 2020 model year, Volkswagen improved the Tiguan’s standard safety package, adding forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert to all models. However, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. VW equipped all 2020 Tiguan models with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick for top-of-the-line SEL Premium models with LED headlights.

The 2021 Blazer scored an overall five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and in all three crash tests. The front passenger scored four stars in the frontal crash, and the vehicle scored four stars in the rollover test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Blazer top "Good" ratings in all crash tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. A driver's knee airbag was standard, but the Blazer did not offer GM's inboard side airbag or rear emergency braking. The "enhanced" forward emergency braking used radar in addition to the camera for more accurate collision detection.