2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Chevrolet Trax

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Corsair), marked a return to real vehicle names for Lincoln, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift was a positive sign, indicating Lincoln's effort to establish a unique identity rather than mimicking 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 front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in less obvious places like the sides of the center console. 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 lineup included five trims, with the Standard trim offering a wealth of features, while the higher trims added even more luxury and advanced options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax, based on the 2015 model, received updates in 2017 and 2020, with the Premier trim dropped for 2021, leaving the LS and LT trims. The LS came with 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, dual front USB ports, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto was standard. A $495 package added tinted windows and cruise control.

The LT trim added heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, rear window tint, roof rails, LED head- and taillights, remote start, cruise control, chrome belt-line moldings, and silver-painted skid plates. It also included upgraded cloth and leatherette seats, a cargo security cover, and a 120-volt AC power outlet. The LT trim offered various styling packages and a Driver Confidence Package with additional driver assistance features. The LT Convenience Package added a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and keyless open and start.

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. 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, 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 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sent power to either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine was adequate for city driving but struggled at highway speeds and during passing maneuvers, making considerable noise.

The Trax had a firm ride, which could be harsh over potholes and bumps. Its tight turning radius provided good maneuverability in tight spaces, making it suitable for city driving. However, rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more comfortable rides and were more enjoyable to drive. The 2022 Trax was set to receive a retuned engine with 155 horsepower, maintaining the same torque output.

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.

The Aviator had some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats with a massage function required navigating a menu on 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 Chevrolet Trax provided a respectable amount of headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were supportive, but the rear seats lacked bolstering and were uncomfortable over long distances. The Trax had multiple storage trays in each door, and the low cupholder placement accommodated large water bottles without interfering with the driver’s elbow.

The Trax offered 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat could fold flat to accommodate larger items. These cargo figures were mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment. However, there was no option for a power liftgate or a hands-free power liftgate.

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 Chevrolet Trax came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system. This system had easy-to-follow menus, vivid graphics, and was complemented by hard buttons and dials surrounding the screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also included Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assistance systems with forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Other safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included an array of airbags and a backup camera. The LT Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. However, the Trax lacked many standard driver safety features found in rivals, such as forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.