2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal. It showcased traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, giving it a balanced appearance suitable for both rugged trails and upscale settings. This versatility made it attractive to a diverse range of buyers. Prices for the Grand Cherokee started at $32,150 for the Laredo and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk reaching $68,895 and $87,400, respectively. The Limited X model, tested at $53,275, featured a ventilated hood, sport-themed bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, but its interior, especially at higher price points, was criticized for excessive hard plastic.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, carrying over from its 2020 debut, impressed with its sharp design and heavy use of chrome, setting it apart from competitors. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, with features like synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a power liftgate in the base model, and upgraded leather, four-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker Revel stereo in the Reserve trim. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and massaging front seats, while the Black Label trims included nearly every optional feature as standard.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg combined. However, the test vehicle achieved only 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available: a 360-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a 475-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT, and a 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk, which could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee also offered various 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model equipped for serious off-roading. However, its on-road driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available AWD. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its highway and suburban driving experience, though it struggled with city driving due to its size and body roll in corners.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 36.3 cubic feet behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded. The Limited X trim featured heated, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate legroom, air conditioning vents, and USB ports. Interior storage included a center console tray, door-panel bins, and grocery bag hooks, though the glovebox and center armrest bin were small.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The Grand Touring model featured second-row captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for rear seat, climate, and audio controls. The Aviator's power-button door releases were a unique feature, though their functionality in a dead battery situation was a concern.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, was known for its speed, graphics, and ease of use, though competitors had caught up. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi data plan. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine sound system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in higher trims. Unique to Jeep was the Off-Road Pages app, providing off-roading information, and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator's Sync 3 infotainment system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, offered a user-friendly interface and redundant controls. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy use. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics and muted colors.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three ADAS packages: ProTech I (standard on all trims) with a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert; ProTech II with low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams; and Advanced ProTech II with full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. However, its crash-test ratings were unimpressive, with a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and poor ratings from IIHS.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with 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 Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.