Compare the2023 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

Both the Atlas and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Aviator’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Lincoln only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Aviator.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Atlas’ reliability 38 points higher than the Aviator.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volkswagen 2 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the Aviator running its gasoline engine:

Both the Atlas and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Atlass have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Aviator Grand Touring doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The Atlas stops shorter than the Aviator:

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Aviator doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 1050 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Atlas has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (153.7 vs. 144.7).

The Atlas has .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more third row headroom, 4.5 inches more third row legroom, 4.2 inches more third row hip room and .9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the Aviator.

The Atlas has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Aviator doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Aviator doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Atlas SEL is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Aviator’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Aviator isn't recommended.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over four to one during the 2022 model year.