2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Lincoln Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. The Aviator showcased Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. Its design was unified across Lincoln's sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, featuring handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. The Aviator's roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while its 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 designed like piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout the cabin, even in areas where it wasn't necessary. The Aviator also featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, highlighting Lincoln's commitment to luxury. The Aviator's lineup included five trims, with the Standard trim offering a well-equipped base model and the Black Label Grand Touring trim featuring a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 aimed to execute the concept of premium better than its competitors. Mazda's commitment to building better cars and SUVs was evident in the CX-5's captivating style, compelling substance, and continual product improvement. For the 2020 model year, the CX-5 received more standard equipment, revised instrumentation, and control markings to enhance the cabin's appearance, as well as modifications to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The turbocharged engine saw an increase in torque output, and AWD versions gained a new off-road traction assistance feature.

The CX-5's design, rooted in Mazda's "Kodo" styling themes, remained appealing, distinctive, and upscale. The interior, especially in Signature trim, featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving the SUV a luxurious look and feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the otherwise black cabin, reducing the level of contrast. The CX-5's interior reflected style and good taste, with classy-looking gauges and elegant metallic 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 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, while the PHEV was AWD only. Both versions could achieve 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided hushed, confident acceleration and a smoother driving experience at low speeds.

The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The driving experience was refined, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. 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 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a Sport mode. FWD was standard, with AWD optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims offered a turbocharged version of the engine, producing 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. The turbocharged engine came with AWD only.

The CX-5 Signature accelerated with authority despite its 3,825-pound curb weight. The turbocharged engine was less efficient, with a combined rating of 24 mpg, compared to 26 mpg for the naturally-aspirated engine with AWD. The CX-5 Signature averaged 22.1 mpg on the testing loop. The CX-5's G-Vectoring Control Plus technology enhanced the driving experience, but excessive body motions during aggressive driving detracted from its overall performance. The steering and brakes were responsive, making the CX-5 enjoyable to drive in typical situations.

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. The Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, comparable to the Cadillac XT6.

The Aviator's interior featured some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats included a massage function, but their controls were split between a door-mounted panel and the center touchscreen. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, which could be confusing for passengers. A manual door release was available only for the driver's door, raising concerns about accessibility in emergencies.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5's interior was more cramped than mainstream compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, Mazda focused on the CX-5's upscale cabin and generous standard equipment to offset this drawback. The interior featured stylish gauges and metallic accents, with higher trims offering additional comfort and luxury features.

Touring trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents. Grand Touring trim included a power height-adjustable front passenger seat, while Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim featured Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more. The front seats were comfortable, but rear legroom was limited. Cargo space measured 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the Ford Explorer's portrait layout. 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 Mazda CX-5 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, which aimed to convey an upscale impression similar to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The system could be frustrating and required acclimation. The Sport trim had a 7-inch touchscreen that responded to touch only when the vehicle was stationary. Bluetooth, HD Radio, text messaging support, integrated internet radio apps, and E911 emergency notification were standard. Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Grand Touring trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. The Signature trim added a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription. Interaction with Mazda Connect was possible via the touchscreen, center console controls, steering wheel controls, or voice-recognition technology. However, none of these methods were ideal, and the voice-recognition technology was particularly unreliable.

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 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-Activsense banner. These included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The CX-5 also had standard LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers, with adaptive headlights available on Grand Touring trim. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.