2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while the low, wide beltline added a boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The cabin was filled with plush leather, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, indicating a deep commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra showcased Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury. The Aviator's lineup included five trims, each offering a range of features and options, with the Grand Touring trim standing out for its plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the same sheet metal from the regular Atlas but featured a low roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch. This design gave it a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, though some elements, like the fake exhaust tips, looked tacky. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas, sharing the same wheelbase and riding on VW's MQB platform.

The interior of the Cross Sport had VW's typical minimalist design, which was functional but let down by subpar materials. Even in the SEL Premium model with leather upholstery, the interior felt cheap, with hard and shiny plastics that were prone to fingerprint smudges. The color scheme was dark and unwelcoming, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place in a non-performance model. Despite these drawbacks, the Cross Sport offered a decent amount of interior space and practical storage solutions.

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 available in 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 Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided smooth and confident acceleration, using electric power at low speeds to enhance the driving experience. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned but effective. The vehicle offered an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic experience, though it remained a 5,600-pound SUV. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg rating, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two powertrain options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and an optional naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start-stop systems for better fuel economy. The turbo-four engine produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 generated 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque.

The VR6 engine and AWD provided lively acceleration from a stop, but midrange acceleration was less impressive. The transmission was slow to react, though manual shifting via the shift lever helped. Ride quality was poor, with every bump and pothole felt, and the cabin let in plenty of wind and tire noise. The Cross Sport handled like a truck, with lots of body roll and loose steering. VR6 models had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, while four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. AWD versions featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance.

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, comparable to the Cadillac XT6.

The Aviator had some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release function was unnecessarily complicated. The manual door release worked only for the driver's door, raising concerns about accessibility in emergencies.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover. Front-seat and rear-seat legroom were near the top of the class, while front headroom was above average. However, rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, slightly behind the Honda Passport.

The Cross Sport featured a 60/40 split-fold second-row seat with a 14-degree backrest recline. SE with Technology trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate. The vehicle had a variety of storage solutions, including cargo nets, cupholders, and bins, with a decent-sized center console and a second-row armrest with integrated cupholders. A large cubbyhole ahead of the shifter housed charge ports and could hold most phones securely.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The landscape layout of the screen provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the portrait layout in the Ford Explorer. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, offering a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was available with two infotainment systems. The base S trim level had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while all other trims got the new MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom screens, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims included additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. The SEL Premium model featured a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system.

The MIB3 system didn't feel dramatically different from MIB2, with similar menus and graphics. It was slow to load, and the Fender audio system sounded lo-fi. The voice recognition required specific prompts and could only be activated by pressing a button on the touchscreen. The Digital Cockpit display allowed for customizable gauge configurations, and well-designed analog controls made the touchscreen largely unnecessary for basic functions.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with standard safety features, including 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, and automatic high beams. Other safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with five stars for side crash tests and four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, parking sensors, and parking assist. Unique to the Cross Sport were the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, available on SEL and higher trims.