2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan presented a conservative yet timeless design, distinguishing itself from its often less attractive competitors. Its refreshed exterior featured new front styling that aligned with Volkswagen's larger models, a restyled grille with the new VW logo, and standard LED headlights. The SUV's lineup was simplified into four trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, plus a destination charge. The SEL R-Line model, tested in Atlantic Blue Metallic, boasted a sportier look with 18-inch alloy wheels and a sophisticated interior featuring leather upholstery and ambient lighting. However, the use of hard plastic in the lower cabin areas hinted at its mass-market status.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator, on the other hand, was a midsize luxury SUV with a striking presence, especially in its Black Label Grand Touring trim. Despite its appealing design, the wheel choices on the test model were underwhelming. The Aviator's interior was lavish, with a focus on comfort and luxury, featuring a four-zone climate control system, massaging 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, the third-row seating was cramped, making it less suitable for adults. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, but folding it down revealed a more generous capacity.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with additional settings for AWD models. Despite its nimble handling, the Tiguan's performance was hindered by turbo lag and a lack of power, resulting in a modest fuel economy of 24 mpg combined.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring was a plug-in hybrid with a twin-turbo V6 engine, delivering an impressive 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The Aviator offered 21 miles of electric driving range and averaged 23 mpg in hybrid mode. Its driving modes included Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, and Excite, among others. The Aviator's performance was powerful but sometimes unpredictable, with inconsistent brake pedal behavior. Despite its weight, the Aviator handled well, though it lacked the fun factor in spirited driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a spacious compact SUV, offering a standard third-row seat in FWD models. The SEL R-Line trim provided comfortable leather seats with power adjustments and excellent visibility. The second row was roomy, accommodating adults and children alike. Cargo space was generous, with up to 73.4 cubic feet available in AWD models. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone climate control system and massaging front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, but the third row was cramped and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, but folding it down revealed 77.7 cubic feet of capacity. The Aviator's interior was luxurious, though some design choices, like the steering wheel controls, were unnecessarily complicated.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM radio. However, the natural voice recognition system required a subscription and was not active during testing. The Tiguan also offered a Park Assist system and various Car-Net connected services.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator was equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The Aviator featured a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system and a Phone As A Key digital key system. The head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses, and parking sensors and a surround-view camera system aided in parking.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist systems. The IQ Drive collection included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely stop the vehicle if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's improvements aimed to enhance this score.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator featured Co-Pilot360 driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking. The test model also had blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and evasive steering assist. While the driver aids performed well, the steering wheel controls were unnecessarily complex. The standard Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.