2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2019 Toyota RAV4

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 presented a bold and aggressive design, immediately noticeable by its chunky build and sharp edges, which were strongly reminiscent of the Toyota Tacoma pickup. Its overall exterior style was futuristic and conveyed a sense of robustness, a theme consistent across the side profile and rear, where the taillights seemed inspired by Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand.

A character line disrupted the rear C-pillar, a common but sometimes visually unappealing design trait. Almost half the available color options featured matching body and roof colors, but seven trims offered a contrasting roof. While this black strip in the rear pillar seemed logical for two-tone versions, it felt like unnecessary design clutter for single-tone options.

Inside, the RAV4 showcased a surprisingly simple and elegant cabin, counterbalancing the busy exterior. The floating touchscreen hosted most features, while remaining controls were neatly arranged into a centrally-placed “pod,” extending from the dash to the cupholders.

The RAV4 came in several trims: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited. The base LE trim included standard features like steel 17-inch wheels with plastic covers, LED lighting, power side mirrors, low-profile black roof rails, and privacy-tinted windows. The XLE trim, which CarGurus recommended and tested, added 17-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, automatic high beams, integrated fog lights, color-keyed mirrors with turn signals, a power moonroof, push-button start, sport bucket seats, and dual-zone climate control.

The XLE Premium trim upped the ante with 19-inch alloy wheels, a power liftgate, an 8-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, and SofTex leatherette seats. The Adventure trim took a rugged turn with unique 19-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, black fender cladding, upgraded roof rails, and orange interior accents. The range-topping Limited trim focused on upscale features, such as 19-inch chrome wheels, unique grille, puddle lights, chrome handles, brown interior accents, ambient lighting, and an array of optional luxury packages.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator sat comfortably between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. Its design was cohesive with Lincoln’s modern style, sporting handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. The tapering roofline and low, wide beltline added to its elongated, almost boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator featured a flowing design with abundant soft-touch materials and strategic brightwork. The substantial use of plush leather, extending from the dash to the door panels and center console, highlighted Lincoln’s commitment to luxury. The seats exuded elegance and comfort, with a piano-key design for the shifter buttons hinting at a touch of Golden Age luxury without overwhelming the overall design language.

The Aviator’s lineup offered five trims: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The base Standard trim was well-equipped with three-zone climate control, parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and the Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and USB ports. The Reserve trim added second-row captain's chairs, power-adjustable front seats, upgraded leather, a power liftgate, premium sound, quad-zone climate control, a surround-view camera, and navigation. The Grand Touring further enhanced these offerings with a hybrid drivetrain, massive sunroof, head-up display, and 30-way seats with massage. At the top, the Black Label trims boasted unique upholstery choices and almost every feature imaginable as standard.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain drove either the front wheels or an optional all-wheel-drive system, available in two variants: a base AWD setup and a more advanced torque-vectoring AWD exclusive to the Adventure and Limited trims. The torque-vectoring AWD was capable of real-time power distribution to the wheels needing it most, enhancing off-road capabilities significantly.

During our test, the XLE trim featured the base AWD setup, providing Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt drive modes. Despite not having driven the torque-vectoring setup, its ability to distribute power seamlessly suggested improved off-road performance.

On-road, the 2.5-liter engine offered decent highway acceleration and satisfactory power for overtaking. However, in stop-and-go situations, it felt slightly underpowered, and engine noise was pronounced. Ride quality was generally good, comfortable with a few bumps, but the steering felt twitchy, and body roll was evident, particularly through fast corners. While the RAV4 had once shared driving dynamics akin to the Honda CR-V, that was no longer the case. Nonetheless, its off-road capabilities remained noteworthy in a segment largely devoid of such features.

Fuel economy was commendable, with the front-wheel-drive RAV4 achieving 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined. The standard AWD version returned 27 mpg city and 34 highway, while the torque-vectoring AWD offered 25 mpg city, 33 highway, and 28 combined. Our real-world testing yielded a combined 29.3 mpg.

The standard Aviator boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating an impressive 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine was shared with other models in Ford's lineup and paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Grand Touring trim took things up a notch with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain, coupling the 3.0-liter V6 with a 100-hp electric motor. This setup produced a combined 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, offering significant power and efficiency. Both powertrains achieved a 0-60 mph sprint in about 4 seconds, showcasing the Aviator's robust performance.

The hybrid system in the Grand Touring used electric power at lower speeds, ensuring smooth and quiet acceleration, especially with the stop-start system. The Aviator's standard driving experience was characterized by light steering and cushioned brake feedback, evoking a sense of refined softness similar to high-end models like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, albeit at a different tier.

Fuel economy varied, with the conventional RWD Aviator achieving 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined. The AWD version returned slightly lower numbers with 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The PHEV offered a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent.

The cabin of the RAV4 was designed to be clean and upscale while remaining highly practical. The center stack contained climate controls, a sizeable tray for essentials, drive-mode controls, and a compact shifter. Storage solutions were plentiful, with a deep center console bin and a passenger dash tray.

Cargo capacity was substantial, offering 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 69.8 cubic feet when folded. Though slightly less than the previous model year, it was comparable to the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee, though behind the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, both providing around 75 cubic feet.

The Aviator's three-row configuration positioned it among luxury competitors like the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The second-row captain's chairs (optional) were excellent, while the third row, though adult-friendly, was better suited for shorter trips. With the second and third rows folded, cargo capacity reached 77 cubic feet, comparable to the Cadillac XT6.

However, the Aviator was not without its quirks. The comprehensive controls for the 30-way adjustable seats were split between door-mounted panels and the central touchscreen, which could be overly complex. The non-traditional door-release button also required acclimatization, and concerns about manual override in case of battery failure were raised.

The base LE trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen running Entune 3.0, which was user-friendly, with Apple CarPlay (lacking Android Auto yet). Bluetooth, USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot were standard. The XLE trim added five USB ports. The top trims received technology upgrades, including a larger 8-inch screen and an optional JBL premium stereo.

The floating screen design was straightforward, with hard dials for key functions and real dials for volume and tuning—features becoming increasingly rare as automakers push proprietary systems.

The Aviator came with a standard Sync 3 infotainment system displayed on a 10.1-inch touchscreen, arranged in a landscape layout for seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The instrument panel was fully digital, and our test model boasted a large head-up display, offering minimalist yet thorough information.

The 2019 RAV4 came equipped with a full set of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a reversing camera. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, dynamic radar cruise control, traffic-sign detection, and Lane-Tracing Assist.

Standard safety features in the Aviator included front and side-impact airbags, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and Lincoln Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance suite. This included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring.