2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the larger Navigator and the smaller MKC, which was later replaced by the Corsair. Lincoln's shift from alphanumeric names to real vehicle names signaled a departure from mimicking imports, showcasing a unified design across its lineup. The Aviator featured a sleek roofline and a wide beltline, giving it an elongated, almost nautical appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and elegant design elements, such as piano-key shifter buttons. The seats were both comfortable and visually appealing, with plush leather used generously throughout the interior. Unique touches like a panoramic moonroof and orchestral warning jingles added to its luxury appeal. The Aviator offered five trims, with the Standard trim providing a well-equipped base, while the Grand Touring and Black Label trims offered additional luxury and performance features.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling, including a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. It was versatile enough to fit in both rugged trails and upscale settings, appealing to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee lineup included a variety of trims, from the base Laredo to the luxurious Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions available. The Limited X trim, tested at $53,275, featured a sport-themed design with 20-inch wheels and a ventilated hood. However, the interior materials, especially in higher-priced models, were criticized for excessive hard plastic. Despite this, the Grand Cherokee remained a popular choice for those seeking a traditional SUV experience.

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 enhanced this setup with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a combined 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering RWD or AWD, while the PHEV was AWD only. The Aviator's performance was characterized by smooth, confident acceleration, with the PHEV providing a quiet driving experience. The steering was light, and the brakes were effective, though feedback was cushioned. The Aviator's fuel economy varied, with the RWD model achieving 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the PHEV offered a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg combined. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Trackhawk's performance was impressive, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring Quadra-Trac II 4WD. While the Grand Cherokee excelled off-road, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three-row seating, competed with other luxury SUVs like the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The optional second-row captain's chairs were praised for comfort, while the third row was best suited for children. The Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. However, some controls, like the seat adjustments and door handles, were overly complicated, potentially causing confusion for passengers.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee provided seating for five and offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded. The Limited X trim featured heated, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilation was not available. The infotainment system integrated seat heater controls, which could be inconvenient. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with thoughtful touches like grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, offering a user-friendly interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and head-up display provided essential information in a minimalist manner.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. The system was generally easy to use, though the ride quality could make selecting virtual buttons challenging. The Limited X trim offered a 9-speaker Alpine sound system, while higher trims featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided valuable off-roading information.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite offered advanced driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems. ProTech I, standard on all trims, included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. Advanced ProTech II featured full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and mixed results from IIHS.