2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV, bridging the gap between subcompact and compact crossovers. It competed with models like the Kia Seltos, Jeep Compass, and Subaru Crosstrek. The Taos came in S, SE, or SEL trims, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The 4Motion AWD option brought significant changes, including a dual-clutch transmission and independent multilink suspension. The Taos's exterior featured 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, while the interior had a mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces, with the SEL trim offering two-tone perforated leather and contrast stitching.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator, particularly the Black Label Grand Touring model, was a luxurious three-row midsize SUV. It featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with prices ranging from $53,340 to $89,280, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The Aviator's design included a sophisticated Lincoln face, but the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered plain. The interior boasted a rich caramel-hued leather against a black backdrop, with high-end materials like soft leather and a simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome detailing and the key fob felt cheap for a vehicle of this caliber.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. The engine's torque delivery was sudden, and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) paired with the 4Motion AWD system offered rousing performance but with erratic and sometimes harsh shifting. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission provided smoother driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode improved drivability but didn't completely eliminate the powertrain's herky-jerky nature. The Taos had a light, compliant character with impressive road feel, responsive steering, and commendable grip. However, its ground clearance was only 6.6 inches, limiting its off-road capability. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 27.1 mpg.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, combined a twin-turbo V6 with a 75-kilowatt electric motor, producing 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The EPA estimated 21 miles of electric driving range and 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Tow/Haul. During testing, the Aviator averaged 24.3 mpg over 94.7 miles, with 34.8 miles covered on electricity. The drivetrain was powerful but sometimes unpredictable, and the brake pedal produced inconsistent behavior. The Aviator's Dynamic Handling Package with adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension managed the SUV's weight well, providing a smooth and quiet ride. However, it wasn't particularly fun to drive, even in Excite mode.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered an impressively roomy cabin for a compact SUV. The SEL's front seats had plenty of seat-track travel and height adjustment, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was spacious with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded down in front-wheel-drive models. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space, with 24.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 60.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for ski trips.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and massaging 30-way Perfect Position front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, with a center console for storage and controls. However, the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access, making it unsuitable for adults. With the third-row seats in use, the Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded flat and 77.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the S trim, while the SE and SEL had 8-inch touchscreens with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim included a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the voice-recognition technology and user experience were subpar, and the transition from Fender to BeatsAudio was not seen as a positive development.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition and point-of-interest searches. The Aviator also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, wireless charging, and Phone As A Key digital key system. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were user-friendly, and the front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were helpful. However, the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system was not tested.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos democratized its IQ Drive safety technologies, making them standard or available for all trims. The IQ Drive package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were also available, with the latter responding to an inactive driver by slowing the Taos and bringing it to a safe stop. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system had issues with certain driveways. The Taos had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 driver aids, depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle included automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The driver aids performed well on straight highways with light traffic but struggled in denser traffic and curves. The steering wheel controls were unnecessarily complicated. The standard Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but the Aviator Grand Touring had not been rated.