2025 Lincoln Aviator vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored its three-row sibling, the Atlas, with updated lighting elements at both the front and rear. The vehicle featured illuminated Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate, a nod to the all-electric ID.4. The front end was characterized by a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, complemented by new standard LED headlights, giving the Cross Sport a distinctly Americanized appearance. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed with the U.S. market in mind. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the standard Atlas, with new wheel designs across all trim levels, ranging from 18-inch to 21-inch options, depending on the model.

Inside, the Cross Sport shared interior revisions with the standard Atlas, featuring a central touchscreen that stood upright and a raised center console with a small storage nook. The interior trim included standard leatherette upholstery, with leather seats available on higher trims, and quilted leather upholstery on the top SEL Premium R-Line trim. Despite attempts to enhance the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim, the materials remained plastic. The cabin's design aimed for functionality, with a focus on storage and comfort, although some elements, like the simulated trim, fell short of luxury expectations.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, boasted classic design proportions with a blunt nose, short front overhang, and a tapered roofline. While the design was fundamentally appealing, the 2025 styling updates were perceived as less elegant, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. The interior exuded a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding the screen-heavy approach of other Lincoln models. The Aviator's remote keyless entry fob, however, was criticized for its cheap plastic construction, though the vehicle offered alternative entry methods like Phone as a Key technology.

Lincoln offered the Aviator in Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label trims, with prices ranging from $60,990 to $89,090. The test vehicle, in Reserve trim with optional all-wheel drive, featured Whisper Blue paint and a center console between the second-row captain’s chairs. The Reserve II Package added desirable features like upgraded exterior lighting, 30-way-adjustable Perfect Position front seats with massage, heated and ventilated second-row seats, a 28-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, and 22-inch wheels. Despite its luxurious features, the Aviator's design leaned more towards a sports wagon than a traditional SUV, with a focus on comfort and technology.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 3.6-liter VR6, offering slightly less horsepower but more torque, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. While the new engine provided an upgrade for many buyers, the engine note was not particularly pleasing, and the vehicle's performance was considered unexciting. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Excite, Conserve, Normal, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The adaptive air suspension, part of the test vehicle's equipment, firmed up in Excite mode but did not make the Aviator particularly exciting to drive. The V6 engine provided ample power for acceleration and passing, though the observed fuel economy was 17.7 mpg, below the EPA rating of 20 mpg. The Aviator's ride quality was generally pleasant, but the 22-inch wheels and thin tires struggled with rough surfaces, generating noticeable road noise. The adaptive Air Glide suspension effectively controlled body motions, ensuring a composed and calming driving experience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport added more standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The SE with Technology trim featured a power liftgate and tow hitch, while the SEL trim included heated second-row seats and leather upholstery. The Cross Sport's roofline impacted rear-seat headroom, but legroom was competitive. Cargo space was generous, with 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The cabin offered functional storage solutions, including a new center console with ample space and door pockets that could hold multiple drink bottles.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator's Perfect Position front seats offered 30 ways of adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage, providing exceptional comfort. The second-row captain’s chairs were roomy and supportive, with heating and ventilation, though they lacked massage functions. The third-row seats were less accommodating, with low, flat cushions and limited legroom. Storage space was excellent, with a smartphone charging pad, cupholders, and a sizable bin in the center console. The Aviator offered 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.6 cubic feet with all seats down.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the haptic touchpads for controls were less intuitive than traditional buttons. The Cross Sport offered up to six USB-C ports, a USB-C dash cam port, and a head-up display on the SEL trim. The optional premium audio system was upgraded to a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system on the SEL Premium R-Line model.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience technology. The system included Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts in the test vehicle. The Aviator's 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system provided excellent audio quality. The head-up display offered a widescreen presentation of data, including lane departure warnings and blind-spot alerts.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IQ.Drive package, now standard on all models, included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added features like predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including active blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist were standard, and BlueCruise offered hands-free driving assistance on approved highways. The Aviator earned five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.