2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair, in Lincoln's lineup. 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 provided 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 Aviator's interior was plush, with soft-touch materials extending to the dash, door panels, and even the sides of the center console. Notable features included a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator, sharing a platform with the Ford Expedition, distinguished itself with unique front and rear styling elements and the Lincoln Embrace lighting system. The Navigator featured a lattice-type grille insert, illuminated star logo, fender vents, and full-width taillights. The Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color grille and side mirror enhancements, and 22-inch black-painted wheels. The Navigator offered standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, with options for standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase Navigator L body styles, and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, featured Dark Slate leather interior, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls. The panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials added to the luxurious feel.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft 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 RWD or AWD, and the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) being AWD. 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, a 21-mile electric-only range, and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned, offering a refined driving experience. Fuel economy for the conventionally powered Aviator with RWD was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD models achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator offered multiple Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb (with the optional towing package). The maximum towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, with a subtle engine note. However, fuel economy was a concern, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness on imperfect pavement, especially in Excite mode, but body motion control was excellent. The Navigator felt huge around town, but a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views improved maneuverability.

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'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 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers found plenty of room to stretch out. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or captain’s chairs with a large center console and audio system controls. The Navigator's third-row seat provided excellent legroom and thigh support, unmatched by competitors. Cargo volumes were class-leading, with the standard-length model offering 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

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 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was less impressive, taking time to load content. However, it provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, 911 Assist, a Lincoln Way smartphone and smartwatch app, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but was not as advanced as some competitors. The Reserve’s Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system with three listening profiles. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, with an optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

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 Lincoln Navigator featured the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, a rear cross-traffic warning system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance operated with refinement. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.