2020 Acura RDX vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Corsair), showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift was a positive sign, indicating Lincoln's unique identity rather than mimicking imports. The Aviator featured a unified design across Lincoln's lineup, 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 brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, emphasizing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2020 Acura RDX, visually similar to the 2019 model, retained its attractive design with a beamy grille and rakish headlights, moving away from the "beak" grille of the past decade. The large logo within the grille, though comical, worked within the overall design. The RDX's upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, with another line crossing over it, creating a large spoiler appearance. Inside, the RDX featured sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery, creating a strong red-and-black interior aesthetic. The RDX came well-equipped with standard features like synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The Technology Package added upgraded Milano leather seating, 19-inch wheels, and additional driver-assistance features. The A-Spec model, which we drove, included unique 20-inch wheels, larger exhaust outlets, LED fog lights, and a diamond pattern grille. Inside, it added ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, UltraSuede upholstery, and sport pedals. The range-topping Advance Package included rain-sensing wipers, acoustic front glass, 16-way power front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient cabin lighting, and natural Olive Ash wood trim.

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 model 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 smooth, confident acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The driving experience was refined, with an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic feel. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator with RWD was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, and 17, 24, 20 with AWD.

The 2020 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid acceleration, with power routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or available Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The 10-speed auto managed power well, aiding both fuel economy and performance. The RDX had a large dial for the Integrated Dynamics System, offering Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, which controlled throttle response, shift patterns, steering feel, and power delivery. The RDX's fuel economy was 22 mpg city, 27 highway, 24 combined, with our A-Spec test model achieving 22.2 mpg. The RDX required premium fuel. The RDX provided great acceleration with minimal turbo lag and fantastic handling while remaining comfortable, making it a versatile performer.

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 had some confusing controls, like the door handles and seat adjustments, which required navigating a touchscreen menu. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, which could be problematic in certain situations.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of a "compact" SUV, offering a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats. The second row also provided great headroom and decent legroom. The front row had space for large water bottles in the doors and center console, with a pass-through cargo tray beneath the shifter console. The second row had a fold-down center console with cup holders and in-door cup holders. The RDX had 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The cargo area was easily accessible, with a good load floor height and a hidden cargo area beneath a liftable panel.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also had 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 RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, despite its vivid widescreen display. It was operated via a touchpad, which Acura called the True Touchpad Interface. This system was less intuitive than Lexus's Remote Touch trackpad, requiring constant attention to ensure correct selections. The touchpad's complexity was further increased by a separate vertical scroller. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but not optimized for the touchpad. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, a 9-speaker audio system, and satellite radio. The Technology Package added two more USB ports, navigation, and the ELS premium audio system. The A-Spec model had the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers, while the Advance Package added a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also included Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assistance systems with forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Acura RDX came standard with front and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat mounting systems, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill-start assist, and a rear-view camera. It also included driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package included a 10.5-inch head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear-view camera washer nozzle. The 2019 RDX, mechanically identical to the 2020 model, received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.