2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Buick Encore GX

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair. Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names signaled a departure from its old alphabet-soup naming convention, indicating a move away from copying 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, boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective brightwork. The seats appeared elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using soft-touch materials throughout, including plush leather on the dash, door panels, and center console sides. The Aviator also featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The Aviator's lineup included five trims: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim came well-equipped with three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and the Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added second-row captain's chairs, 12-way power front seats, upgraded leather upholstery, a hands-free power liftgate, Revel premium sound system, quad-zone climate control, surround-view camera system, and a navigation system. The Grand Touring trim included a huge sunroof, head-up display, wireless charging pad, 30-way seats with a massaging function, and a 28-speaker Revel 3D premium sound system. The Black Label trim offered unique upholstery choices and nearly every feature as standard equipment, while the Black Label Grand Touring added the plug-in hybrid drivetrain of the Grand Touring.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX was slightly larger than the Encore, with a more mature and complete overall appearance. It featured a larger grille, revised headlights and taillights, and a reworked rear end. The cabin of the Encore GX showed a tremendous amount of care, style, and fit and finish, feeling nicer than the Hyundai Kona's interior.

The Encore GX's trim levels included Preferred, Select, and Essence. The Preferred trim came with 18-inch aluminum wheels, heated power-adjustable side mirrors, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, remote keyless entry, push-button start, automatic climate control, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Select trim added roof rails, remote start, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a ten-way power driver's seat with lumbar adjustment. The Essence trim added unique front and rear chrome bumper accents, LED head- and taillights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather seating, and a 120-volt wall-style power outlet. The Essence test vehicle also featured the ST package, which included a unique grille, 18-inch wheels, sporty lower front spoiler, side skirts, and extended rear bumper with red accents.

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 the 3.0-liter turbo V6 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 an AWD setup. Both versions could achieve 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds.

The Grand Touring's combination of electric and gas power provided hushed, confident acceleration, smoothing out the driving experience with its stop-start system. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned in their feedback. The Aviator featured an "Excite" drive mode, but its 5,600-pound weight limited its dynamic capabilities. 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 drivetrain offered a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a rating of 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for front-wheel drive (FWD). The test model featured a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, making 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, sent through a CVT to the front wheels. The AWD version used a nine-speed automatic transmission, with torque dropping to 162 pound-feet.

The 1.3-liter engine provided solid power for its size, though it felt underwhelming on the low-end. The auto-stop/start system was seamless, but the engine's occasional vibrations affected the overall driving experience. The Encore GX's steering was responsive and well-weighted, and its suspension soaked up bumps and potholes nicely. The GX's composure and handling at higher speeds were impressive, allowing for confident cornering.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator's three-row configuration placed it in competition 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 seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with only half the seat controls found in the door-mounted panel. A button above the seat-control area brought up a seat-control menu on the center touchscreen. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button on the back of the handle instead of a traditional handle. A manual door release was available, but only for the driver's door.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX offered added space in the rear seats and cargo area. The rear doors were larger, and the rear seat's legroom and headroom were increased. With the rear seats up, the Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was five cubic feet more than the standard Encore and three cubic feet less than the larger Buick Envision. The Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 had less total cargo space.

The added rear legroom meant the front seats didn't need to be moved to fold the rear seats down. A quick-flip button in the rear headrests allowed for easy lowering of the rear seats. The rear load floor featured removable dividers, allowing for more space. The Encore GX's front shifter was moved to the left of the center console, creating additional trays and cubby space. The in-door cubbies were deep, and the cup holders were designed for large water bottles.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The screen used a landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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 Buick Encore GX came standard with GM's latest touchscreen infotainment system, featuring an intuitive layout, crisp graphics, and responsive performance. The main menu items could be customized, and the presets could hold contacts, addresses, and radio stations. The system also included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, navigation, and a rear camera mirror. The available head-up display projected onto a small plastic display that deployed from the dash, providing a cost-effective alternative to a specialized windshield.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a full array of 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 Buick Encore GX came standard with forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, and a following distance indicator. It also featured the Teen Driver System, allowing for speed and volume limitations for a secondary set of keys. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring with lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. The standard suite included front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system.