2025 Lincoln Aviator vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, showcased classic design proportions. Its blunt nose, short front overhang, and appealing dash-to-axle ratio contributed to its sports wagon-like appearance, despite being an SUV. However, the 2025 styling updates made it appear less elegant and more generic, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. Inside, the Aviator offered a plush interior with a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding the screen-heavy approach of other Lincoln models. The remote keyless entry fob, though, was a letdown due to its cheap plastic construction. In Canada, the Aviator was available in Premiere and Reserve trims, with prices ranging from $79,595 to $81,695, including destination charges. Our test vehicle, in Reserve trim, featured several option packages, bringing its MSRP to $96,295.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, marking the start of its third generation. It adopted a sleek modernity inspired by VW's electric vehicles, evident in its narrower headlights and illuminated VW badge and light bar in the top Highline R-Line trim. The grille appeared larger, with smaller actual openings, and the rear sported a fastback-like illusion with a black contrasting roof. The interior modernization included a tablet-like infotainment display and a digital instrument panel. The dashboard became more minimalist, with physical climate controls moved to the bottom of the central touchscreen. Materials quality was average for the class, with soft-touch materials in key areas. The Tiguan's exterior styling evolved previous themes with influences from newer VW vehicles.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered various driving modes, including Excite, Conserve, Normal, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The optional adaptive air suspension firmed up in Excite mode, but the Aviator's mission was more about comfort than excitement. The V6 provided ample power for acceleration and passing, though fuel economy was disappointing at 13.3 L/100 km during testing. The Aviator offered clear sightlines and a 360-degree camera view for parking. Ride quality was pleasant, but larger bumps and road noise from the 22-inch wheels were noticeable. The adaptive Air Glide suspension excelled at maintaining composure, ensuring a calming cruising experience.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD was standard in Canada. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to be similar to its predecessor, reaching 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds. The drivetrain delivered power smoothly, and braking was confident with a well-weighted pedal. The suspension favoured comfort, smoothing over road imperfections while maintaining composure in corners. The Tiguan's cabin was quiet, even on coarse roads. While not sporty, it was appropriately tuned for a balance of performance and comfort. A more powerful Turbo version was anticipated for 2026, along with a potential hybrid powertrain.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator offered luxurious comfort with its Perfect Position front seats, featuring 30-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, with available heating and ventilation. However, the third-row seats were less accommodating for adults, with limited legroom and low cushions. Storage space was excellent, with a smartphone charging pad, cupholders, and a sizeable bin in the centre console. The Aviator provided 466 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,131 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,149 litres.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan returned without a third row, increasing second-row legroom by nearly 4 centimetres. The interior featured traditional buttons, improving usability compared to the previous model's capacitive-touch buttons. Visibility was comparable to other small SUVs, and the centre console offered ample storage with cupholders and a deep armrest bin. The Tiguan could hold up to 1,668 litres of cargo behind the first-row seatbacks, though cargo capacity behind the second row was not finalized. The angled liftgate hatch limited loading of bulkier items, but remote seatback releases and a power liftgate added convenience.

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. It included Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts in the test vehicle. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system provided excellent audio quality. The Aviator's head-up display offered a widescreen presentation of data, including lane departure warnings and blind-spot alerts.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 15-inch display on the top trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless phone charger. Capacitive-touch sliders adorned the infotainment screen frame, but a new volume knob on the centre console improved usability. The standard audio system had seven speakers, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system available on the top trim. VW's Car-Net system included remote monitoring and control.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator included the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, featuring active blind-spot monitoring, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist were standard, along with BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system. The Aviator earned five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The Highline R-Line trim added a head-up display, surround-view camera system, and traffic sign reader. The safety and driver assist features functioned as expected, with no false alarms or oversensitivity issues.