2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Buick Encore GX

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Corsair), showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights, an upright chrome grille, and a tapered roofline that gave it an elongated, boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials, elegant and sturdy seats, and unique shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The plush leather extended to areas like the dash and door panels, indicating Lincoln's deep commitment to luxury. The Aviator also included thoughtful touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX, in contrast, impressed with its styling, avoiding the awkward proportions of the original Encore. Available in Preferred, Select, and Essence trims, with an optional Sport Touring package, the Encore GX offered a choice between FWD and AWD, and two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The test model, an Essence trim with a 1.3-liter turbo engine, included upgrades like a power hands-free rear liftgate and several option packages. Despite a high MSRP, Buick heavily discounted the Encore GX for GM customers. The cabin offered expected quality for a small SUV, though the interior design wasn't as clean as the exterior. The analog gauges were hard to read, and the HUD vibrated on anything but smooth pavement, highlighting a lack of refinement.

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, and the PHEV being AWD. 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 yet effective. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator with RWD was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17, 24, 20. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 MPGe rating.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter with 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, and a 1.3-liter with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The larger engine was available with FWD or AWD, while the smaller engine was FWD only. The Encore GX's driving experience was adequate, with enough power for freeway cruising and some torque steer with FWD. FWD models had a CVT, while AWD models used a nine-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version also featured a Watt’s linkage rear suspension. The FWD test car's ride quality was inconsistent, and despite Buick's QuietTuning efforts, the cabin wasn't particularly quiet. The Encore GX handled well on narrow, winding roads, but overall lacked refinement for a premium-brand vehicle. Fuel economy averaged 28.2 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate.

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 for kids on longer trips. Dropping the second and third rows provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space. The Aviator's seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with complicated seat controls and an unconventional door-release function. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release mechanism could be problematic in certain situations.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered supportive front seats with power adjustments and heating, but the back seat was less comfortable, with limited thigh support and an odd recline angle. Interior storage was good, with a trunk measuring 23.5 cubic feet, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle included a hands-free power liftgate and a fold-flat front passenger seat for carrying long items. However, the rear lacked air conditioning vents, and the overall comfort for rear passengers was limited.

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 a massive head-up display provided a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX Essence included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and Buick Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Advanced Technology Package added navigation, natural voice recognition, SiriusXM 360L, and a high-definition surround-view camera. Wireless smartphone charging was part of the optional Convenience Package. Despite the added packages, the test car lacked the available 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The system offered quick response, impressive voice recognition, pleasing graphics, and a simple user interface.

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 2021 Buick Encore GX featured Buick Driver Confidence as standard, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Select and Essence trims. Adaptive cruise control was available, along with Teen Driver technology and automatic collision notification. The Encore GX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS had not tested it.