2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

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 roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while the low, wide beltline added a 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 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 featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, highlighting Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the boxy, rugged design reminiscent of the 2016 LR4. It featured squared-off edges, a rising roofline toward the rear, lots of glass, roundish headlights, and short overhangs with skid plates for off-road trails. The Defender's design included step plates on the front fenders and a ladder on the back hatch, though these were now more for show than function. The vehicle retained "alpine lights" atop the roof, narrow windows that helped drivers navigate steep Alpine passes. The taillights were rounded rectangles, stacked in a black bar connecting the tailgate glass, with additional brake lights and turn signals echoing the old Defender's design. An external spare tire was prominently displayed, and the tailgate opened like a safe. The Defender offered various customization options, including black fender flares, additional skid plates, vinyl graphics, and a factory matte wrap. Inside, the cabin was basic and industrial, with cloth seats, an optional center jump seat, and exposed aluminum bars and screws. The Defender's interior was designed for durability and ease of use, with simple controls and a new infotainment interface.

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 smooth, confident acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg rating and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned, offering a refined driving experience. The vehicle featured an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic feel, though it remained a 5,600-pound SUV. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, and 17, 24, and 20 for AWD.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender offered a quiet, plush, and soft ride on all surfaces. Its optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine produced 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, with a mild hybrid system that eliminated turbo lag and provided consistent power. The Defender's eight-speed automatic transmission had a sport mode for aggressive launches. The vehicle's steering was slow, and the suspension leaned generously, requiring deep stomps on the brakes. The standard engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, best suited for the smaller two-door 90 model. The Defender excelled off-road, with Terrain Response 2 and adjustable-height suspension providing excellent performance. It could handle steep angles and deep water, making it a capable off-roader. The Defender's towing capacity was 8,200 pounds with either engine.

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 center 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 Land Rover Defender was designed for durability and ease of use, with a retro and minimalist interior. The two-door 90 model, arriving in 2021, featured an optional jump seat that served as an armrest when stowed, allowing it to fit six people. The four-door 110 model had an optional third row, accommodating up to seven passengers. The Defender's interior was basic, with cloth seats, an optional center jump seat, and exposed aluminum bars and screws. The cabin layout offered generous headroom and legroom, with a standard panoramic moonroof on the 110 and a folding fabric roof on the 90. Cargo space on the two-door 90 was 16 cubic feet, expanding to 58 with the rear seats folded. The four-door 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 with them folded. Models with the third row had 69 cubic feet with all rows folded, 35 behind the second row, and 11 behind the third row. The Defender's ladder allowed easy access to the roof, and it had an impressive towing capacity of 8,200 pounds.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout, providing a user-friendly 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 Land Rover Defender introduced the Pivi Pro infotainment system, a complete overhaul from previous JLR systems. It featured two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air software updates. The interface had a muted grayscale theme with thin type, making it easier to use. The Defender's front cameras provided a view of the ground underneath the front hood, and a rearview mirror doubled as a screen. The vehicle had a 12-inch digital instrument panel with full-screen maps and new gauge renderings, and an optional head-up display. The base Defender 110 came with steel wheels, manual seats, and a basic stereo, but higher trims offered more features, including a heated steering wheel, leather, a 14-speaker Meridian stereo, and various accessories.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came 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 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by any U.S. crash testing agency. It came with six airbags, forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitor, and 360-degree cameras as standard. Rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts upon exiting the vehicle were optional.