2021 Dodge Durango 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 tapered 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 areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, emphasizing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, while maintaining its muscular stance and athletic styling since its 2011 debut, received a refresh for the 2021 model year. The new Durango SRT Hellcat model featured a cold-air scoop, throaty twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a redesigned front end. Six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version were available, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes to choose from.

The Durango's cabin was updated with a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running FCA's Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Moving up the trim levels, the Durango became increasingly premium, with options for leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery. Contrast stitching and Demonic Red-colored seat belts added a funky flavor. The updates to the dashboard gave the Durango a modern appearance, aligning it with the Charger and Challenger muscle cars.

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, 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 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with RWD standard and AWD optional (mandatory on certain models). The V6 produced 293-295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 392 HEMI V8 in the Durango SRT 392 produced 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.

The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the Durango SRT Hellcat generated 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, offering smooth and controlled power delivery. The Durango's steering was precise, but the chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension that transmitted bumps to the cabin. The Hellcat's Brembo six-piston brakes provided ample stopping power, even on the track. The Durango R/T's Tow N Go Package allowed for a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, with stable performance thanks to the "Tow" drive mode's 50/50 AWD torque distribution.

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's seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with 30-way seat controls partially located on a door-mounted panel and a touchscreen menu. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, raising concerns about usability in emergencies. Despite these quirks, the Aviator's interior was luxurious and well-appointed.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It wasn't as elegant as the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot, nor as bulky as the Nissan Armada or Ford Expedition. The Durango's midsize packaging made it a versatile family vehicle with an athletic design. It came standard with seating for five in two rows, with an optional third row increasing capacity to seven.

The front and second-row seats were spacious, accommodating taller passengers, while the third row was more spacious than many competitors, comparable to the Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing out compared to earlier models like the Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a conventional 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 Dodge Durango came standard with an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT trims, while higher trims received a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor, offering greater personalization, connected services, two Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via the car's 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch controls. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two high-resolution 9-inch screens. SRT models received unique appearance features, including SRT's "smoke show" start-up animation and serpentine font. The gauge cluster's design made it difficult to read the exact speed, but the TomTom navigation system was a standout feature, providing clear and responsive guidance.

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 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera and passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. Many competitors offered these features as standard. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but IIHS ratings were not yet available.