2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair. The Aviator featured a unified design across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, and its low, wide beltline almost gave it a boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats appeared both elegant and sturdy, and the shifter buttons had a piano-key design. The cabin was filled with plush leather, even in areas where it wasn’t necessary, indicating a deeper commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, despite being smaller than the Atlas, still felt huge inside. The test vehicle, with SEL Premium trim and the R-Line package, looked terrific with machined-finish 21-inch wheels and optional Pure Gray paint. The interior featured a wide dashboard, a heated steering wheel, and large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous power adjustments. The second row was equally comfortable, accommodating three kids or smaller adults, with expansive legroom and headroom. However, the dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled to overcome direct sunlight on warm days, especially when the engine’s automatic stop/start system engaged. Storage space was plentiful, and the rakish roofline still allowed for 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 77.8 cubes with it folded down.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trim combined this engine with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was AWD only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The PHEV drivetrain provided a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a rating of 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined. The Aviator’s steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned in their feedback, offering a refined driving experience.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, making 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission with a sport mode, and the Atlas was primarily front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The V6 felt sprightly around town, but the 8-speed automatic transmission had delayed downshifts in normal mode. The 4Motion AWD system allowed some front-wheel slip before transferring power to the rear wheels. The Atlas Cross Sport had Active Control traction settings, including On-road, Snow, Off-road, and Custom Off-road. The SUV was rated to get 19 mpg in combined driving, and the test vehicle averaged 18.7 mpg.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Land Rover Discovery, and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain’s chairs were fantastic, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. Dropping the second and third rows provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space. The Aviator had some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments, which required navigating a menu on the center touchscreen. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button on the back of the handle, which could be confusing for passengers.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, despite being smaller than the Atlas, felt spacious inside. The test vehicle featured large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous power adjustments for both the driver and front passenger. The second row was comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom, and included rear air-conditioning vents and heated seat cushions. The dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled on warm days, especially with the engine’s automatic stop/start system engaged. Storage space was plentiful, and the rakish roofline still allowed for 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 77.8 cubes with it folded down.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The screen used a landscape layout, presenting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the entire screen. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, providing a lot of information while being minimalist and unobtrusive.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three different infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display. The system accommodated two Bluetooth device pairings simultaneously and included robust Car-Net smartphone and smartwatch connected services. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. However, the Cross Sport lacked a natural voice recognition system, requiring the use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a standard automatic post-collision braking system and a full array of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had additional features like road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The Lane Assist system prevented lane changes when another vehicle was in the blind spot, and the rear cross-traffic alert system included automatic emergency braking. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in this respect.