2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

Volkswagen offered the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport in a variety of trims, including S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium, with optional Technology and R-Line packages. The Cross Sport's styling was a major selling point, featuring a shorter length and lower height than the larger Atlas, giving it an SUV coupe look. The SEL Premium trim with the R-Line package looked particularly striking, with 21-inch machined-finish wheels and optional Pure Gray paint, giving it a custom appearance. The interior, while visually appealing with a Burgundy and Titan Black two-tone color scheme, revealed hard plastics upon closer inspection. However, the design and materials in high-contact areas were well-executed, and the available ambient lighting added a nice touch.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, carrying over from its 2020 debut, showcased Lincoln's successful design language with crisp lines and chrome accents. The Aviator's exterior was sharp and benefited from the heavy use of chrome, setting it apart from its rivals. Inside, the Aviator's cabin exuded comfort and warmth, with soft-touch materials and a center console that elegantly rose to a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes for alerts added to the Aviator's luxurious feel. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each adding progressively more features and luxury touches.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 235 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm on premium gas. This engine, related to the one in the Golf GTI, struggled with the Atlas Cross Sport's 4,103-pound curb weight. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine offered 276 hp at 6,200 rpm and 266 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm, providing a more spirited driving experience. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and 4Motion all-wheel drive available. The V6 engine allowed for a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport's driving modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with Active Control settings for different terrains. Despite its size, the Atlas Cross Sport handled well, though it lacked an adaptive damping suspension and had a thirsty fuel consumption rate of 19 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator's Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The Aviator's drive mode selector included unique names like "Excite" and "Conserve," reflecting its focus on comfort rather than performance. The Aviator excelled on highways and in suburban settings but struggled in tight city spaces.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, though smaller than the Atlas, offered a spacious interior. The front seats were large, heated, and ventilated, with numerous power adjustments. The second row comfortably accommodated three children or two adults, with ample legroom and headroom. The test vehicle's dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled in direct sunlight, but storage space was plentiful, with a large center console, door panel bins, and a glove box. The Cross Sport provided 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

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 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The power-lift-and-lower third-row seats and a hands-free power liftgate added convenience. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim with captain's chairs and a digital control panel, was the highlight, offering comfort and control over seat, climate, and audio settings. The Aviator's power-button door releases, while sleek, raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen, USB-C ports, and a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system. The system supported two Bluetooth device pairings simultaneously and included robust Car-Net connected services. However, the lack of a natural voice recognition system was a drawback, requiring reliance on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was intuitive and featured a sensible menu layout. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons that utilized the entire screen. The Aviator also included a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics. The combination of these features made the Aviator's technology suite user-friendly and visually appealing.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) even at the base trim level, such as automatic post-collision braking. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle featured additional ADAS like road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The ADAS operated smoothly, though the lane assistance feature was quickly turned off. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in safety evaluations.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package on the Grand Touring trim added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a Top Safety Pick accolade.