2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like appearance, reminiscent of Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior told a different story, with a mix of textures and materials. While higher trims featured upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these clashed with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car rather than true luxury vehicles.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its sharp and distinctive styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. The Aviator's design language, inspired by the larger Navigator, was marked by crisp lines and chrome accents, making it one of the few modern cars that benefited from heavy chrome use. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth. Soft-touch materials and a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen dominated the dash, while the piano button shifter added a touch of class. The Aviator's interior was further enhanced by soothing chimes and a range of luxurious features, creating an air of sophistication.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a well-matched driving experience, with the CVT offering a credible imitation of a conventional automatic transmission. The CR-V's road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its lightweight design, with a curb weight of just 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model, contributed to its impressive fuel economy, achieving 30 miles per gallon combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD versions.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, on the other hand, offered a more powerful performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, although the Aviator's heft was noticeable in corners. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its suitability for highways and suburban driving.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and practicality, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the class giant, the Volkswagen Tiguan. Its clever packaging included a deep center console and a two-position load floor in the rear, providing 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's excellent seating position and visibility added to its appeal, making it easy to live with and accommodating for various storage needs.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, it offered 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space, impressive for a midsize luxury SUV. The Aviator's second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel added to its comfort and functionality. However, the use of power-button door releases raised concerns about potential issues if the battery were to die.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat, along with a wireless phone charger in the Touring trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape format of the screen provided a natural layout, and the system was easy to use with redundant controls in the center stack. The Aviator came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons on the screen. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display added to the Aviator's technological appeal.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came equipped with the "Honda Sensing" system as standard, offering features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, although lower trims had caveats due to halogen headlights. A safety recall for a possible rear subframe failure affected only a small number of vehicles.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator boasted a comprehensive safety package with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.