2020 Cadillac XT6 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 stood out due to its clean and crisp styling, which was emblematic of modern Cadillac design. It cleverly masked its long, boxy shape beneath a sleek, tailored exterior. Smooth body panels and minimal creases contributed to a slimming effect without the need for excessive chrome or oversized accents. Satin-painted silver adorned the windows and complemented the medium-sized silver mesh grille, which sported a black finish on Sport models. The LED headlights, vertical running lamps, and turn signals were among its flashiest features, delivering a balanced and tasteful appearance that avoided boredom while ensuring longevity in style. Even with standard 20-inch wheels, the XT6 maintained good proportions and rivaled other attractive SUVs like the Audi Q7 and Kia Telluride in its toned-down yet sophisticated theme.

Inside, the XT6 fell short compared to its competitors in the luxury segment, including Lincoln, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover. Despite featuring incredibly soft leather, microsuede accents, and gold-tinted carbon fiber trim, it lacked the overall lavishness and support in its seats. The lower center stack and console were draped in cheap vinyl rather than leather, and the plain seatbacks lacked contrast piping, stitching, or interesting patterns. With small screens, nonadjustable ambient lighting, and ordinary color combos, the XT6's interior seemed outdated. Various competitors had moved towards more opulent materials and eye-catching color schemes, placing the XT6 slightly behind in terms of overall interior appeal.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, meanwhile, hit a home run by not emulating its rivals' styles and sticking to Lincoln's own design language successfully implemented in the Navigator. The Aviator inherited this winning formula, arriving in 2020 and carrying over to 2021 with minor changes. It boasted sharp lines and extensive use of chrome, making it visually striking.

Inside, the Aviator distinguished itself from its Ford counterpart, boasting crisp lines and chrome accents while delivering a sense of comfort and warmth. Soft-touch materials were abundant, and the center console rose gracefully to the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter, although less intuitive than a traditional lever, was sensibly arranged and added a touch of class to the central dash area. Lincoln’s approach to small details, like soothing chimes instead of standard alerts, contributed strongly to the Aviator’s air of class and luxury.

Trim levels ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, with each step up adding more luxury features. For instance, the Standard trim included essentials like synthetic leather upholstery and a power liftgate, while the Reserve trim incorporated upgraded leather, second-row captain's chairs, and a panoramic sunroof. Higher trims even featured adaptive headlights, Multi-Contour massaging seats, and a powerful 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, underscoring Lincoln's focus on creating a premium experience at every level.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 housed a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. While this engine was sufficient for moving the large SUV and allowed a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds, it sounded coarse and lagged in responsiveness compared to the modern turbocharged V6 engines in its rivals. However, it displayed enough pep, aided by the 9-speed automatic transmission that offered quick shifts and well-spaced ratios. Standard FWD didn’t quite match up to the RWD chassis found in newer Lincoln, BMW, and Mercedes SUVs known for better weight distribution.

When equipped with AWD and adaptive dampers, the XT6 impressed with its balanced and controlled ride. The steering was direct and well-weighted, although it felt too loose in the default Tour driving mode compared to the secure feel in Sport mode. Cadillac's adept steering and suspension tuning shone through, especially in a big crossover. However, potential enhancements like MagneRide dampers and height-adjustable air springs could have further optimized the suspension, drawing from the successful adaptation of the same dampers by Ferrari. The brakes offered a pleasantly firm feel, and over 400 miles of mixed driving, the XT6 matched its EPA combined rating of 20 mpg, with AWD models achieving 17 mpg city and 24 highway.

Despite its brisk acceleration, the Aviator's substantial weight introduced noticeable body roll in corners, and its long wheelbase made maneuvering in tight spaces somewhat awkward. However, the Aviator excelled on highways and suburban streets, offering a refined driving experience. Drive modes like “Excite” and “Conserve” added a layer of customization to its performance.

In the 2020 Cadillac XT6, rear seating proved adequately livable. The third-row seat design avoided the common pitfall of being only child-friendly, providing decent knee room and amenities like USB ports, cupholders, and air vents. Although not ideal for long journeys, short trips were comfortable. Headroom was sufficient across all seating positions, even with the panoramic moonroof extending into the second row. The second row itself was notably spacious and could be equipped with heated cushions and backrests, enhancing comfort further. Total cargo capacity measured 12.6 cubic feet with all seats raised, expanding to 43.1 cubic feet with the third row down and 78.7 cubic feet with both rows folded flat. Visibility and functionality in the XT6 were well-considered, with a digital rear-view mirror and an improved infotainment system enhancing ease of use.

On the other hand, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator delivered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Power-lift-and-lower third-row seats allowed for an increase to 41.8 cubic feet of cargo space. With all seats folded down, the Aviator provided a total of 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space, making it highly competitive in the midsize luxury SUV class. A power liftgate came standard, with an available hands-free option for added convenience.

Regarding passenger comfort, the Aviator's second row stood out, especially in the Grand Touring trim with its second-row captain's chairs, center console, and digital control panel for various adjustments. These elements made the second row particularly favorable for passengers. However, Lincoln's use of power-button door releases raised concerns about the potential inconvenience if the battery ever dies.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 featured an infotainment system that was a revamped version of the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, significantly better than Cadillac's previous CUE system. Although it didn't match the stellar interface of BMW, the XT6’s system was fast, intuitive, and easy to operate, with cloud-based voice commands and an in-built app store offering services like Spotify and the Wall Street Journal. Moreover, Cadillac boasted driver profiles transferable across other GM vehicles, enhancing user convenience during rentals or borrowed drives.

Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various driver assists such as forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features, like 360-degree cameras capable of recording while parked, added an extra layer of security. However, the XT6 lacked semi-automated driving features and Super Cruise, Cadillac’s hands-free driving system, undermining its appeal in today's tech-savvy automotive market.

In the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, a 10.1-inch touchscreen powered the Sync 3 infotainment system. This system stood out for its intuitive layout and redundancy controls in the center stack. Standard connectivity included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, effectively utilizing the full screen and presenting large icons for easy navigation. Additional highlights were the fully digital instrument panel and the optional head-up display, which delivered crisp graphics and muted colors for a comfortable viewing experience.

As for the safety of the 2020 Cadillac XT6, it awaited crash test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS at the time, but expectations were high for top scores. The available Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package added features like rear pedestrian detection, a digital rear-view mirror, and 360-degree cameras. Additional driver assists in the Driver Assist Package included high-speed emergency braking, reverse emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with advanced seat-belt tightening technology to ensure optimum slack.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with an impressive array of standard safety features under the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, encompassing automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Grand Touring model further benefitted from the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, which introduced features like reverse automatic braking, self-parking, and traffic-adaptive cruise control. These features operated seamlessly, providing a comprehensive safety net without being intrusive. The Aviator earned top marks from both NHTSA and IIHS, including the covetedTop Safety Pick rating from IIHS.