2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Acura MDX

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Lincoln Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, almost boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons designed like piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in less obvious places like the sides of the center console. The Aviator also featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to a holistic luxury experience.

The 2020 Acura MDX, while not groundbreaking in its styling, was a good-looking crossover SUV that fit in well without drawing too much attention. Acura's signature Jewel Eye LED headlights added a rich look to the front, with five LED elements per side arranged horizontally. The MDX had a sleek, low-slung profile with chiseled details and flawless paint and chrome.

Inside, the MDX's cabin was modern and simple, with a high-quality level of material selection and superior fit and finish. The center stack featured twin infotainment screens, with an 8.0-inch LED screen for navigation and an On Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) touchscreen below. The MDX felt solid and well-built, with knobs and switches that actuated with authority and materials that had a rewarding feel.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trim combined this engine with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was AWD only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds.

The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided hushed, confident acceleration and smoothed out the driving experience with its electric power at low speeds. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The driving dynamics aimed for soft refinement, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2020 Acura MDX offered two powertrains: a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The MDX Sport Hybrid used a 3.0-liter V6 engine and three electric motors, producing a combined 321 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and all-wheel drive.

The gasoline-only MDX with Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) displayed good straight-line performance and nimble handling, especially with torque-vectoring technology. This feature directed power to the outside wheel during cornering, improving handling and making the MDX easier to drive quickly. The four-wheel independent suspension provided a comfortable ride, soaking up bumps in the road.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Land Rover Discovery, and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain's chairs were fantastic, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. Dropping the second and third rows provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6.

The Aviator's interior featured some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats with a massage function required navigating a seat-control menu on the center touchscreen. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button on the back of the handle, which could be confusing for passengers. A manual door release was available only for the driver's door.

The 2020 Acura MDX, as a three-row SUV, offered sliding and reclining second-row seats for easier access to the third row and adjustable legroom. Headroom was good in all three rows. The MDX provided 15.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 43.4 cubic feet with the third row folded flat and 90.9 cubic feet with the second row also folded flat. Additional storage included a recessed cubby hole, covered underfloor storage, a big glove box, a flexible center console, and door panel pockets.

Second-row passengers had cupholders and front-seat back pouches, while third-row passengers had an outboard armrest with a storage bin and cup holder. The MDX featured tri-zone climate control, allowing separate heating/cooling options for the driver, front-seat passenger, and rear cabin positions.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the Ford Explorer's portrait layout. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, offering a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2020 Acura MDX simplified its trim levels into packages, each filled with technology features. The base MDX included Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SMS/MMS text message and email capability, a CD/MP3 player, five USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an eight-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added rain-sensing windshield wipers, LED puddle lights, parking sensors, navigation, GPS-linked climate control, remote engine start, and a premium audio system. The Advance Package included additional tech features like the Active Damper System suspension, LED fog lights, heated and ventilated front seats, a surround-view camera system, and Head-Up Warning. The Entertainment Package added a DVD rear entertainment system with a 110-volt power outlet and wireless headphones.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with standard safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Acura MDX featured the standard AcuraWatch suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Advance Package included Head-Up Warning. Additional safety equipment included a rearview camera, front airbags, front-side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, driver’s knee airbag, stability control with traction control, Trailer Stability Assist, tire pressure monitoring, LATCH child-seat mounts, and a theft-deterrent system. The MDX's Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure was designed to absorb crash impact and protect occupants. The MDX received high safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.