2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

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, and the shifter buttons had a piano-key design. The Aviator's interior was plush, with soft-touch materials throughout, including the dash, door panels, and center console sides. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra showcased Lincoln's commitment to luxury.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 looked sophisticated, featuring styling cues similar to the XT4 and XT5 crossovers. The XT6 Sport trim had darkened accent pieces on the grille, hood, and lower bumper, with matching window surrounds, roof rails, and rear bumper. It rode on 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with Android Satin finish pockets. The XT6's sharp lines and slim all-LED headlights gave it a premium and distinctly Cadillac appearance. The interior was nearly identical to the XT5, with three color options: Jet Black, Cirrus, and Maple Sugar. The Platinum Package elevated the seats to semi-aniline leather upholstery and added a microsuede headliner and premium floor mats. While the dashboard area was less premium than the seats, it was still attractive, though some stitching, buttons, and cubby design appeared cheaper.

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 but effective. The Excite drive mode offered a more dynamic experience, though the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its agility. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg rating, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The same engine was standard in the XT6 Premium Luxury trim, while the base XT6 Luxury model had a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine provided smooth acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission shifted seamlessly. The XT6 had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and available all-wheel drive (AWD), with the Sport model exclusively AWD. The XT6 Sport's 4,690-pound weight made it feel less dynamic, especially in tight turns and under harsh acceleration. Fuel economy for the turbo-four engine with AWD was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined, while the FWD version achieved 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined. The V6 engine with FWD earned 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, with AWD versions achieving 18 mpg city, 25 highway, and 20 combined. The Smart Towing package was available on midgrade and higher trims, including hitch guidance, a hitch cover, and a seven-wire harness.

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 Aviator's 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 XT6. The Aviator's seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with only half the seat controls on the door-mounted panel and the rest accessible via 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 but only for the driver's door.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 offered comfortable seats with heating available in the first two rows, though competitors like the Acura MDX had more plush seating. Seating for seven was standard, with an option to upgrade to second-row captain's chairs for $800. Adults could fit in the third row, though the XT6 had less head-, leg-, shoulder-, and hip room than many competitors. Interior small-item storage was limited, especially for front-row riders. The wireless phone charger was a deep-pocket type, making it difficult to access the phone while charging. The XT6 excelled in rear cargo space, with more overall cargo space than many competitors. A standard power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats made utilizing the cargo area easy. The cargo load floor was high, typical for the class, and there wasn't much space behind the third row.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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 XT6's tech was suitable but not cutting-edge. The 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system could appear crowded or lacking information, depending on the use case. Standard features included tri-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote start, and Teen Driver monitoring. Upgrades included an air ionizer, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, heated/ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, navigation, and upgraded wireless charging capability. Navigation and the upgraded Bose audio system could be packaged together for $1,000.

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 Cadillac XT6 had a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, following-distance indicator, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, a high-definition rearview camera, Safety Alert Seat, and IntelliBeam headlights with rear park assist. Premium Luxury and Sport models also had lane change alert with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Assist Package ($1,300) included adaptive cruise control, automatic seat belt tightening, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking. The Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package ($2,350) added an 8.0-inch-diagonal gauge cluster, head-up display, rear-camera mirror, HD surround vision, surround-vision recorder, rear pedestrian alert, and automatic parking assist with braking. Night Vision technology was available on Premium Luxury and Sport trims. The NHTSA gave the 2021 XT6 a five-star frontal crash test rating and a four-star rollover crash test rating. The IIHS named the 2020 XT6 a "Top Safety Pick+."