2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its unique styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. It carried forward the sharp design language of the Navigator, characterized by crisp lines and a tasteful use of chrome. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the air of class and luxury.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, offered a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. Its clean lines and balanced proportions were designed to age well. The Tiguan was large for its class, providing a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and an optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it featured more hard plastic than its luxury counterparts.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator provided robust acceleration and a smooth-yet-quick swell of power, though it exhibited noticeable body roll in corners and was somewhat awkward to maneuver in tight spaces.

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 as an option. The Tiguan's powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though our test model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. However, the use of power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery ever died.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat provided excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for flexible cargo configurations, 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 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape layout that made for a natural user experience. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons that took up the whole screen. The Aviator also came with a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. However, the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system were lacking. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, offering an understated approach to technology and information display.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came well-equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured 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 Tiguan earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.