2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2019 Acura MDX
Overview | |
MSRP$44,300 | MSRP$51,100 |
Listings393 | Listings591 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.0 out of 10 | Expert reviews8.2 out of 10 |
Pros
Cons
| |
2019 Acura MDX Reviews SummarySlowly but surely, Acura is picking itself up and dusting itself off after a decade of wayward product development and marketing decisions took Honda’s luxury division off-track. Through it all, though, the MDX midsize 3-row crossover SUV has propped the company up, selling in great enough quantities and at high enough profit margins to ensure Acura’s survival. Now in its sixth year since a complete redesign, is the 2019 MDX still worthy in a battle against newer competitors? | |
2020 Lincoln Aviator Reviews SummaryThe heyday for Lincoln was more than a half-century ago. Those postwar years of prosperity and optimism were the perfect time for cars like the Continental and others. They delivered comfort and luxury, wrapped in midcentury modern styling. Even as recently as the 1990s, Lincoln was still a popular brand, riding the SUV craze with its Navigator. But after the turn of the century, Lincoln lost its ability to create new designs and looked inward and backward. Sure, retro-themed cars like the redesigned Mustang, PT Cruiser, and Chevy HHR had turned some heads, but none of those came from luxury brands. The BMWs and Mercedes of the world were all looking forward and pushing the envelope for contemporary automotive design. Meanwhile, Lincoln offered the MKX, which was based on the Ford Edge and featured ’66 Continental styling. Neat in a vacuum, but off-base compared to the modern luxury market. This experimental phase with various retro looks coincided with the move to the MK-# alphabet-soup naming convention and big improvements in the Ford lineup, where top-end trims of the Fusion overlapped with an entry-level trim of the MKZ. The combination left Lincoln a confusing, anonymous afterthought in the modern luxury game. But Lincoln is finally ready to change all that. It has a new cohesive design language, its focus is once again on luxury, and the three-letter naming convention that never meant anything to anyone other than Lincoln marketers is gone. The brand led with the 2017 Continental and 2018 Navigator, which are each impressive in their own right. But the company's lineup is growing and now includes the all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Named after a luxury variant of the 2002-2005 Ford Explorer, this new Aviator is also based on the contemporary Explorer platform, but it's a luxury vehicle in its own right. Much of the success of the Lincoln brand may hinge on this midsize, 3-row luxury SUV, so you need to consider its competition, such as the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, and all-new Cadillac XT6. Read on to learn if Lincoln’s take on luxury will stand out in a crowded competitive field. | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine3.5L 290 hp V6 | Engine3.0L 400 hp V6 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity7 | Seating Capacity7 |
Horsepower290 hp @ 6200 rpm | Horsepower |
MPG City20 | MPG City18 |
MPG Highway27 | MPG Highway26 |
Engine | |
Engine Name3.5L 290 hp V6 | Engine Name3.0L 400 hp V6 |
Torque267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm | Torque |
Horsepower290 hp @ 6200 rpm | Horsepower |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City20 | MPG City18 |
MPG Highway27 | MPG Highway26 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity7 | Seating Capacity7 |
Key Features | |
Sunroof/MoonroofStandard | Sunroof/Moonroof |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.0 cu ft | Cargo Space18.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight4032 lbs | Curb Weight4764 lbs |
Height67.4 in | Height69.8 in |
Length196.2 in | Length199.3 in |
Width77.7 in | Width89.9 in |
Wheelbase111.0 in | Wheelbase119.1 in |
Maximum Payload1336 lbs | Maximum Payload |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity3500 lbs | Maximum Towing Capacity |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $44,300 | $51,100 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.0 out of 10Read full review | 8.2 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
Cons
| |
Summary | Slowly but surely, Acura is picking itself up and dusting itself off after a decade of wayward product development and marketing decisions took Honda’s luxury division off-track. Through it all, though, the MDX midsize 3-row crossover SUV has propped the company up, selling in great enough quantities and at high enough profit margins to ensure Acura’s survival. Now in its sixth year since a complete redesign, is the 2019 MDX still worthy in a battle against newer competitors? | The heyday for Lincoln was more than a half-century ago. Those postwar years of prosperity and optimism were the perfect time for cars like the Continental and others. They delivered comfort and luxury, wrapped in midcentury modern styling. Even as recently as the 1990s, Lincoln was still a popular brand, riding the SUV craze with its Navigator. But after the turn of the century, Lincoln lost its ability to create new designs and looked inward and backward. Sure, retro-themed cars like the redesigned Mustang, PT Cruiser, and Chevy HHR had turned some heads, but none of those came from luxury brands. The BMWs and Mercedes of the world were all looking forward and pushing the envelope for contemporary automotive design. Meanwhile, Lincoln offered the MKX, which was based on the Ford Edge and featured ’66 Continental styling. Neat in a vacuum, but off-base compared to the modern luxury market. This experimental phase with various retro looks coincided with the move to the MK-# alphabet-soup naming convention and big improvements in the Ford lineup, where top-end trims of the Fusion overlapped with an entry-level trim of the MKZ. The combination left Lincoln a confusing, anonymous afterthought in the modern luxury game. But Lincoln is finally ready to change all that. It has a new cohesive design language, its focus is once again on luxury, and the three-letter naming convention that never meant anything to anyone other than Lincoln marketers is gone. The brand led with the 2017 Continental and 2018 Navigator, which are each impressive in their own right. But the company's lineup is growing and now includes the all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Named after a luxury variant of the 2002-2005 Ford Explorer, this new Aviator is also based on the contemporary Explorer platform, but it's a luxury vehicle in its own right. Much of the success of the Lincoln brand may hinge on this midsize, 3-row luxury SUV, so you need to consider its competition, such as the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, and all-new Cadillac XT6. Read on to learn if Lincoln’s take on luxury will stand out in a crowded competitive field. |
Video | ||
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 3.5L 290 hp V6 | 3.0L 400 hp V6 |
Drive Train | FWD | RWD |
Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 |
Horsepower | 290 hp @ 6200 rpm | |
MPG City | 20 | 18 |
MPG Highway | 27 | 26 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 3.5L 290 hp V6 | 3.0L 400 hp V6 |
Torque | 267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm | |
Horsepower | 290 hp @ 6200 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 20 | 18 |
MPG Highway | 27 | 26 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 |
Key Features | ||
Sunroof/Moonroof | Standard | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.0 cu ft | 18.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 4032 lbs | 4764 lbs |
Height | 67.4 in | 69.8 in |
Length | 196.2 in | 199.3 in |
Width | 77.7 in | 89.9 in |
Wheelbase | 111.0 in | 119.1 in |
Maximum Payload | 1336 lbs | |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity | 3500 lbs | |
Inexplicably, luxury automakers have allowed Acura to dominate the midsize, 3-row crossover segment for well over a decade. The 2019 Acura MDX has been on a program of continuous improvement, offering a racy new A-Spec Package trim level, improved interior materials, and an adaptive damping suspension with the Advance Package. The MDX's interior boasts quality materials and a serious yet whimsical design.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned below the Navigator and above the compact MKC, features a unified design across all its sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The cabin offers a flowing design, soft-touch materials, and selective use of brightwork. The Aviator's lineup includes five trims, each offering a range of luxurious features and options.
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Acura MDX 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Lincoln Aviator 8 out of 10. The 2019 Acura MDX comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, making 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It offers an optional SH-AWD system and a Sport Hybrid model with a 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The MDX A-Spec proved itself mighty quick and enjoyable to pilot.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator comes standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring model combines the 3.0-liter turbo V6 with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains offer hushed, confident acceleration.
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Acura MDX 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Lincoln Aviator 7 out of 10. The 2019 Acura MDX offers an exceptionally comfortable and practical interior, with fantastic front seats, a GPS-linked triple-zone climate control system, and ample storage. The third-row seat is not suitable for everyday use but provides additional cargo space when folded.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competes with other luxury SUVs in its category. The optional second-row captain’s chairs are fantastic, and the power-closing third row is adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. The Aviator's interior features some unique control placements, such as the door-release function.
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Acura MDX 5 out of 10 and the 2020 Lincoln Aviator 9 out of 10. The 2019 Acura MDX's infotainment system was upgraded last year, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the dual-screen approach and voice-recognition system have been noted as flawed.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator comes standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Aviator's screen layout provides a more conventional landscape setup, offering a seamless interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also features a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display.
CarGurus highlights
Based on the ratings and detailed comparison, both the 2019 Acura MDX and the 2020 Lincoln Aviator offer compelling features and benefits. However, the 2020 Lincoln Aviator edges out the 2019 Acura MDX with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.2 out of 10.
Choose the 2020 Lincoln Aviator if:
- You seek a luxury SUV with a slightly higher overall rating and a range of trims offering luxurious features and options.
- You value advanced technology and safety features, including a fully digital instrument panel and a head-up display.
- You are interested in a 3-row luxury SUV with a competitive pricing range and a unique design language.
Choose the 2019 Acura MDX if:
- You prioritize a well-established and continuously improved luxury SUV with a strong performance and comfortable interior.
- You are looking for a competitive leasing program and a great deal compared to other midsize luxury SUVs.
- You prefer a vehicle with a proven track record and a range of available trims and packages to suit your preferences.
CarGurus highlights
Based on the ratings and detailed comparison, both the 2019 Acura MDX and the 2020 Lincoln Aviator offer compelling features and benefits. However, the 2020 Lincoln Aviator edges out the 2019 Acura MDX with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.2 out of 10.
Choose the 2020 Lincoln Aviator if:
Shop Now- You seek a luxury SUV with a slightly higher overall rating and a range of trims offering luxurious features and options.
- You value advanced technology and safety features, including a fully digital instrument panel and a head-up display.
- You are interested in a 3-row luxury SUV with a competitive pricing range and a unique design language.
Choose the 2019 Acura MDX if:
Shop Now- You prioritize a well-established and continuously improved luxury SUV with a strong performance and comfortable interior.
- You are looking for a competitive leasing program and a great deal compared to other midsize luxury SUVs.
- You prefer a vehicle with a proven track record and a range of available trims and packages to suit your preferences.
By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.