2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the same dynamic styling as the rest of the current Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it look more svelte than it really was. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, with a solid level of refinement, although hard plastics were used in many areas.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator took a different approach to styling, avoiding the temptation to emulate its rivals. The Aviator, which carried over from the 2020 model, featured crisp lines and heavy use of chrome, making it an incredibly sharp-looking car. Inside, Lincoln differentiated the Aviator from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring plenty of soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The Aviator also included unique touches like a piano button shifter and soothing chimes for alerts, contributing to its air of class and luxury.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was sent to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive through a 6-speed automatic transmission on the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided stout acceleration, making it easy to move from a standstill or make passing moves on the highway. The Pilot's ride was refined and comfortable, designed for easy commutes and relaxing road trips, though it lacked real athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System allowed drivers to cycle through Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand modes, each with its own drivetrain and traction control tuning.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 on the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured the same twin-turbo V6 in a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth swell of power, though the Aviator's heft was noticeable in corners. The drive mode selector included modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," appropriate for the Aviator's highway and cul-de-sac suitability.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher offered one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with rivals like the Highlander, Telluride, Palisade, and Ascent. The Pilot also featured plenty of spaces for family gear, and higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which could be increased to 41.8 cubic feet with the power-lift-and-lower third-row seats folded. With all rear seats folded, the Aviator provided 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space, solid for the midsize luxury SUV class. The second row, especially with captain's chairs and a center console, was the place to be, featuring a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. However, the use of power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery ever died.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. All other trims included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's layout was confusing, with a small volume knob and no tuning knob, relying heavily on the touchscreen. Higher trims offered HD Radio, SiriusXM, Cabin Control Remote Capability, navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and an upgraded 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system. The Elite and Black Edition trims included a wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The screen's landscape format made for a natural layout, and the system was easy to use with a sensible menu layout. The Aviator also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented well on the screen with large icons. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display featured large, crisp graphics and multiple muted colors, making them easy on the eyes.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard safety features also included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS, along with a Superior score in crash prevention technology evaluation.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard driver assistance features as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Grand Touring test model included the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, adding reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS.