2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the larger Navigator and the smaller MKC and Corsair in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the previous alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's range, 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 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 cabin was filled with plush leather, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra highlighted Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as the flagship SUV in Infiniti's lineup, was significantly larger than the QX50 and QX60. For 2020, it was available in two trims: Luxe and Limited. The QX80's exterior had been refreshed in 2018, featuring modern details like welcome lights, power-folding mirrors, LED fog lights, and adaptive front lighting. The cabin was upscale, with soft-touch materials and a generally attractive design, though some trim pieces lagged behind competitors. The center stack prominently featured piano-black plastic, which was prone to fingerprints. The QX80 offered three interior color schemes and matte silver and open-pore Ash wood trim for Limited models. Despite some shortcomings in material quality, the QX80's fit and finish were generally good, and its infotainment system had been updated to a sleeker, more modern display.

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 PHEV's combination of electric and gas power provided smooth, confident acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned but effective. The SUV's driving dynamics focused on soft refinement, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg rating, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, shared with the Nissan Armada, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. It used a seven-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode and required premium unleaded fuel. The QX80's powertrain handled its weight well, though the transmission was clunky when downshifting. Fuel efficiency was a weak point, with the RWD model achieving 14 mpg city, 20 highway, and 16 combined, while the 4WD version managed 13 mpg city, 19 highway, and 15 combined. The QX80 offered RWD or 4WD for the Luxe trim, with 4WD standard on the Limited trim. It featured Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes and two steering systems: engine-speed-sensitive for Luxe models and vehicle-speed-sensitive for Limited models. The QX80's light steering made low-speed navigation easy, but it struggled with high-speed stability. The optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system and standard rear auto-leveling suspension provided a relatively smooth ride and maintained stability when towing. The QX80 had an 8,500-pound towing capacity.

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. With the second and third rows folded, the Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. The Aviator's seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with seat controls split between a door-mounted panel and 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 INFINITI QX80 featured plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, but the third row had limited legroom, making it suitable for small children or pets. Standard seating for seven included second-row captain’s chairs, with an optional 60/40 split-folding bench. The leather-appointed seats were available in perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery, with Alcantara seats featuring quilting, contrast piping, and stitching as an option. The driver’s seat was 10-way power-adjustable with two-way lumbar support, while the passenger’s seat was eight-way power-adjustable with the same lumbar support. Heated and climate-controlled front seats were standard, with heated outboard second-row seats available. The QX80 had a heated, leather-wrapped, tilting, and telescoping steering wheel, and a dual-occupant memory system for the driver’s seat, mirrors, and steering wheel. Entry and exit seating assist and flip-up easy-entry second-row captain’s chairs were standard. The QX80 offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.1 cubic feet with both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup allowed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to be displayed across the entire screen, providing large icons and readouts. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, which presented information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 featured an 8-inch upper infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0-inch lower touchscreen, allowing for split functionality. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone climate control, a moonroof, a CD player, a 12-volt outlet, and four USB ports. Optional upgrades included two 8.0-inch rear-seat entertainment displays, a WiFi hotspot, and a 17-speaker Bose stereo. SiriusXM services like Travel Link and Traffic were available with a complimentary four-year trial period. The infotainment system was easy to use but lacked modern design elements.

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 INFINITI QX80, despite being an older model, offered a good roster of standard and available safety features. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and automatic collision notification. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, distance-control assist, and lane-keep assist. The QX80 received "good" scores in the moderate overlap front and side crash tests from the IIHS and had a moderate risk of rollover according to the NHTSA.