2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair, in the Lincoln lineup. The Aviator showcased Lincoln's new design language, featuring handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while the low, wide beltline imparted 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, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, indicating a deeper commitment to luxury. The Aviator also featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge presented a cleaner alternative to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the Edge ST trim sported a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The interior, however, began to show its age, with a design that had been awkwardly tweaked over the years to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models came with leather upholstery, while ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

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, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The vehicle featured an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic experience, though it remained a 5,600-pound SUV. 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 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST also had model-specific suspension tuning and an optional package with upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short of that benchmark. The Edge's towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD four-cylinder, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with vehicles like 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 children 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 featured some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats had a massage function, accessible through 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 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited the available space. The raised console allowed for a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget about items placed there.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring 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, which presented information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. It also included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it easy for new users to acclimate, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360, which 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 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. The Edge came with standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.