2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It had a purposeful yet expressive design that appealed to many. The primary trim levels included Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with the latter being the best for off-roading. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim started at $25,210, while the High Altitude trim, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim featured extra-cost paint, trendy dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, despite the luxurious details, the interior still showed signs of its inexpensive origins with hard plastic materials and an all-black cabin color scheme.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, carrying over from its 2020 model, showcased a sharp design with crisp lines and heavy use of chrome. Inside, it differentiated itself 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 piano button shifter in the middle of the dash added to its unique appeal. The Aviator's trims included Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring, each offering a range of luxurious features. The Grand Touring trim, which we tested, included adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and Lincoln’s impressive Multi-Contour Seats with a massaging function. The rear seat area featured multiple USB ports, wall-style power outlets, and a digital panel for rear climate and audio controls.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive on base models and all-wheel drive on higher trims. Our test vehicle had the turbocharged 1.3-liter engine, which provided peak torque at just 1,750 rpm, making the Renegade feel energetic. However, turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy rather than performance led to a lack of response during acceleration. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were less than ideal, with a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin making highway driving a chore.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with up to 21 miles of pure electric range. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft led to noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," with the Aviator excelling on highways and in suburban settings but struggling in city driving.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's boxy exterior design resulted in a spacious-feeling interior, especially with the panoramic glass roof. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat made it easy to get comfortable, though front passengers lacked seat height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, and there were few practical interior storage spots. Cargo volume measured 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

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 folded. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. The use of power-button door releases was a potential functional issue, but overall, the Aviator offered a spacious and luxurious interior.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with logically arranged menu buttons and a new Kenwood premium audio system. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was easy to use with a sensible layout. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics. The infotainment system and redundant controls in the center stack made for a user-friendly experience.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. It earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and commendable scores from the IIHS, though it did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard 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 the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.