2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

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 previous alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's range, with elegant headlights and a prominent chrome grille. Its tapered roofline and low, wide beltline gave it a sleek, elongated appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing cabin design with soft-touch materials and elegant seats, hinting at a luxurious experience reminiscent of the Golden Age. The front seats were notably comfortable, with plush leather extending throughout the cabin, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a panoramic moonroof and orchestral warning jingles added to its appeal. The Aviator offered five trims, with the Standard trim providing a well-equipped base, while the Grand Touring and Black Label trims offered enhanced luxury and performance features.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh, featuring new front and rear bumpers, LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes gave the Atlas a more extroverted look compared to the previous model. The R-Line trim added sportier elements, while the Atlas maintained its MQB platform, shared with other VW models. The Atlas offered a minimalist interior design with logically laid-out controls. It provided a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows, with optional second-row captain's chairs. However, the material quality in the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim. The Atlas offered various wheel sizes, roof rails, and a panoramic sunroof on higher trims, but its ride quality was criticized for being harsh, with noticeable impacts from road imperfections.

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 enhanced this setup with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a combined 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering RWD or AWD, while the PHEV was AWD. The Aviator's driving experience was characterized by light steering and cushioned brakes, with the PHEV providing smooth acceleration. The Aviator's fuel economy was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, while the PHEV offered a combined 23 mpg with a 21-mile electric-only range.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and optional 4Motion AWD. The Atlas's driving experience with the base engine and AWD was underwhelming, with rough shifts and truck-like handling. The ride quality was poor, with noticeable impacts from road imperfections. The Atlas offered different drive modes, but they didn't improve on-road handling. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder was 22 mpg combined with FWD, while the VR6 achieved 19 mpg combined with FWD.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three-row configuration, competed with models like the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The optional second-row captain's chairs were praised for comfort, while the power-closing third row was suitable for short trips. The Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. However, some controls, like the seat adjustments and door handles, were overly complicated, potentially causing confusion for passengers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, designed as a family hauler, offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. It provided more third-row legroom than most competitors but sacrificed second-row legroom. The standard second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin cushions. The Atlas featured a straightforward folding mechanism for the second and third rows, with easy third-row access. Controls were logically laid out, with up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. The Atlas offered 17 cupholders, providing ample beverage storage.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, offering a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator's fully digital instrument panel and head-up display provided a wealth of information in a minimalist manner.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas included Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured an 8-inch screen. The Digital Cockpit was available on higher trims, replacing analog gauges with a 10.3-inch digital display. The Atlas was set to receive the MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, offering improved features. The SE with Technology trim had an 8-inch screen, but the displays were plain and text-heavy. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was new for 2021.

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 offered driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in IIHS crash tests, with mixed ratings for child-seat anchors and headlights. The NHTSA hadn't published ratings for the 2021 model, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. The Atlas offered standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more advanced driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.