2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair. Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names signaled a departure from its old alphabet-soup naming convention, indicating a move away from copying imports. The Aviator featured a unified design across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, 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 less obvious places. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5, meanwhile, aimed to reverse Cadillac's decline in refinement. Updated for the 2020 model year, the XT5 featured 40 upgrades, including a new engine option, revised styling, and enhanced technology. The exterior had a more snub-nosed look, with standard LED lights and 20-inch wheels. The XT5's interior design was more upscale than its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with sweeping horizontal lines and straightforward materials.

In the Premium Luxury trim, the XT5 exuded elegance with cut-and-sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents. However, it lacked some of the luxury touches found in other high-end vehicles. The interior design was chic, but the front seats were not as comfortable as they appeared during extended road trips. The XT5 offered a reasonable amount of cargo space, though it was less than some competitors.

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. 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 for a more dynamic experience, though it remained a 5,600-pound SUV. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17, 24, and 20 mpg. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 MPGe rating.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Premium Luxury trim could be upgraded to a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 237 lb-ft of torque, which was standard on the Sport trim. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which was smooth when upshifting but clunkier when downshifting.

The XT5's throttle response was immediate with the V6, but it lacked low-end torque. The engine start-stop technology was seamless, except for the heating and air conditioning shutting down during stops. The XT5 achieved about 25 mpg in AWD during a 2,000-mile test drive, better than the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined. The base engine achieved 23 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The XT5's fuel economy was comparable to rivals like the Infiniti QX50 and Acura RDX.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator's three-row seating placed it in competition 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 had a massage function, but their controls were split between a door-mounted panel and a touchscreen menu. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a traditional handle, which could be confusing for passengers.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 had enough room for four adults in two rows, though it technically seated five with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat had limited headroom for tall occupants, but legroom was good in both rows. The front seats were not as comfortable as they appeared during extended road trips, with a hard bottom cushion. Heated front seats were standard, and the climate control system activated heated or ventilated seats based on the interior temperature.

The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some competitors but with a deep rear cargo area. However, wheel bump-outs minimized the width of the cargo area. The SUV's cargo-management system allowed for dividing and securing loose items, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available. Small-item storage was limited, with no good place for a smartphone and small map pockets.

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 2021 Cadillac XT5 featured a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, with climate controls housed in Piano Black plastic that provided haptic feedback. The tri-zone automatic climate control's temperature was adjusted via a chrome toggle switch, though it often ran colder than displayed. The rear seats had their own set of controls and 60/40 split-folding capability.

The XT5's infotainment system included a rotary controller on the center console, which crowded the screen's aesthetics. The SUV came with one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, AUX port, Bluetooth, wireless charging, and USB-A and USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 4G LTE WiFi hot spot and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system available. The XT5 also offered a rear camera mirror and a head-up display.

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, and automatic high beams. Other safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5's safety features included front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. Not all technologies were available in all trim levels. The XT5 also featured a rear-seat reminder and a rearview camera. Cadillac's Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing large wildlife and hazards to be seen at a distance. The Teen Driver software allowed parents to limit certain vehicle features and view a report card of driving habits.