2021 Buick Envision vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Corsair), marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from Lincoln's previous alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift signaled a departure from merely imitating imports. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, almost boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The cabin's luxurious touches, such as a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, highlighted Lincoln's commitment to a holistic luxury experience.

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, positioned above the smaller Encore GX and below the larger Enclave, featured a lower and wider stance, giving it a more planted appearance. The Envision's sculpted look was more refined than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision offered three trim levels: Preferred, Essence, and Avenir, with the Avenir trim making its debut in 2021. The Avenir grade added premium exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels. Inside, the Avenir featured unique trim patterns, leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated inserts, and a head-up display. The Envision's cabin design was driver-centric, with a protruding center stack housing the infotainment screen and climate controls, angled toward the driver.

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 V6 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 and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's driving experience was characterized by light steering and cushioned brakes, offering a refined ride similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined for RWD, and slightly lower for AWD.

The 2021 Buick Envision replaced its previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, down from the previous 252 hp and 295 lb-ft. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Envision's weight reduction of 200-300 pounds helped improve fuel efficiency. The FWD model achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. Despite the power downgrade, the turbo-four engine provided competent daily drivability. The Envision's driving experience was more comfortable than sporty, with noticeable engine and road noise. The drive mode selector included a Sport mode, but the impact was minimal, and the noise persisted.

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. However, the Aviator's controls, such as the seats and door handles, were overly complicated. The 30-way seats with a massage function required navigating a seat-control menu on the center touchscreen. The door-release function was also confusing, with a button instead of a conventional handle, raising concerns about usability in emergencies.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign resulted in less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Despite these reductions, Buick claimed nearly identical passenger volumes for the 2020 and 2021 models. The Envision's cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, lower than other luxury SUVs. The rear cargo space was sufficient for daily use, with grocery bag holders and carve-outs around the wheel wells. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger's access to climate controls and the infotainment screen. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision's seats were comfortable but unremarkable. Forward visibility was challenging for shorter drivers due to the hood's slope and cowling.

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 fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display offered a minimalist and unobtrusive way to access essential information.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech highlight was the standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The available 8.0-inch driver information display provided faster access to station and song title information. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging.

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 Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.