2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

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. This shift was a positive sign, indicating Lincoln's unique identity rather than mimicking 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, almost boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator's cabin 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 front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in less obvious areas like the sides of the center console. The Aviator also had luxurious touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The lineup included five trims, with the Standard trim offering a wealth of features, while the higher-end Grand Touring and Black Label trims added even more luxury and advanced options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, inspired by the larger Blazer midsize crossover SUV, was a stylish subcompact vehicle. It adopted traditional cues like dark gray plastic trim around its lower perimeter and borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul, making its styling immediately likable. The Activ trim of our test vehicle added a rugged appearance with front and rear skid plate trim, unique 17-inch aluminum wheels, sport terrain tires, a larger grille, and standard two-tone paint.

Inside, the Trailblazer's interior design was excellent, with a well-thought-out control layout, useful storage, and attractive detailing. The white-stitched charcoal-colored cloth on the door panels and seats was reminiscent of Volvo's design. However, the interior also had plenty of hard shiny plastic, which was acceptable at the base MSRP of $19,995 but harder to justify as the price climbed past $30,000. The Activ trim, equipped with AWD and several option packages, had a window sticker price of $30,580, including destination charges.

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 took this further by combining the 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 RWD or AWD, while the 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 brake feedback, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The "Excite" drive mode offered a more dynamic experience, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its agility. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator with RWD was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered a standard turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine in the FWD L, LS, and LT trims, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. Other versions featured a more powerful turbocharged 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine, delivering 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, with AWD models using a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Activ AWD's powertrain was agreeable, with torque kicking in at a low 1,600 rpm and available up to 4,000 rpm. The 9-speed automatic provided smooth gear changes, and Sport mode enhanced responsiveness.

The Trailblazer's performance was adequate for most driving conditions, though it struggled on tight curves and uphill sections. On the testing loop, the Activ AWD averaged 26.6 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg combined. The Trailblazer exhibited excellent roll control, nicely weighted steering, and decent grip, but its firm ride and suspension impact harshness were notable drawbacks. The Trailblazer Activ was best suited for gravel roads, despite its rugged appearance.

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. 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 replacement of basic controls with bespoke variations, like the seat and door handle controls, could be confusing. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release function was unnecessarily complicated.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer's interior had its pros and cons. Cloth seats were only available in the L and LS trims, limiting options for those who preferred this material. The leatherette seats in our test vehicle tended to trap sweat, and the automatic climate control struggled to keep the cabin cool. The front seats were comfortable, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver, but the rear seats were less welcoming, with a flat cushion and reclined backrest. The lack of rear air conditioning vents added to the discomfort. On the positive side, the flat rear seat cushion translated to a flatter cargo floor when folded, expanding cargo space from 25.3 cubic feet to 54.4 cubic feet. The front passenger seat also folded down, providing 8.5 feet of cargo-toting length.

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 added to the tech-savvy experience, with a minimalist and unobtrusive design.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered two infotainment systems. The standard setup included a 7-inch touchscreen, simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Teen Driver technology, and Chevrolet Connected Access services with a WiFi hotspot. The upgraded version for the Activ and RS trims featured an 8-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and cloud-connected vehicle personalization functions. The Trailblazer also provided USB-A and USB-C charging ports, wireless smartphone charging, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The simple, intuitive interface and physical controls made the infotainment system user-friendly.

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 Chevrolet Trailblazer was equipped with 10 airbags and Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a safe following distance indicator. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and a subscription-based automatic collision notification service. Depending on the trim level, options included a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, a high-definition reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control. The safety tech had some quirks, such as over- and under-reactive adaptive cruise control and inconsistent lane-keeping assist.