2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Corsair), showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift signaled a departure from merely copying imports. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The cabin's plush leather extended to areas where it wasn't necessarily needed, indicating a deep commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra highlighted Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, with its clean lines and balanced proportions, offered a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. Despite some finding its styling boring, the Tiguan's design was expected to age well. The second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor, offering a long-wheelbase version for regions favoring larger vehicles. This resulted in a roomy interior, nearly as spacious as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The Tiguan's interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the engine start button's placement on the center console was unusual. While the cabin featured shiny detailing and a well-integrated touchscreen infotainment system, it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi. The steering wheel stalks also felt a bit flimsy.

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 RWD or AWD, while the PHEV was AWD only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided smooth, confident acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The Excite drive mode offered a more dynamic experience, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, and 17, 24, and 20 for AWD.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available for an additional $1,400 on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The engine suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers or when extra power was needed. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD model. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires lacked grip in corners. The Tiguan excelled in highway comfort, providing a quiet and composed ride.

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 best suited for kids on longer trips. With the second and third rows folded, the Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. However, the Aviator's controls were somewhat confusing, with complicated seat adjustments and unconventional door handles. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release function was unnecessarily complicated, raising concerns about usability in emergencies.

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, ensuring proper support and excellent visibility. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control system was effective. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan's panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, and storage space, though limited, included a large glovebox and fabric-lined door panel bins. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo arrangements, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet, depending on the presence of the third-row seat.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a conventional landscape layout. This setup provided a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons and readouts. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, offering a minimalist yet informative readout.

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 Car-Net connected services. However, the user interface had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was subpar. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender audio system was a significant improvement. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims also featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, offering an understated approach to technology and information display.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came 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 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped 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. The SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to accelerate when traffic cleared. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent, and the blind-spot warning indicator was easy to see. The parking sensors were sensitive, sometimes mistaking the street for a collision threat. The standard reversing camera provided a clear view, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. Car-Net connected services offered numerous safety features, including automatic collision notification and Family Guardian alerts. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.