2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E 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 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 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 cabin was filled with plush leather, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, indicating a deep 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 Mustang Mach-E aimed to connect with the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior styling. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, the Mach-E maintained a Mustang-like appearance with thin headlights, a long hood, and a large oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's look and featured sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior color palette, including Grabber Blue, reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E's interior was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, giving it a minimalist feel similar to Tesla electric cars. The interior materials were of decent quality, but some buyers might have been disappointed by the lack of a leather-upholstery option. First Edition models featured unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

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 but 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 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, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to live up to the Mustang name with sporty performance. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, with 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car had the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

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 kids on longer trips. Dropping the second and third rows provided 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, which required navigating a touchscreen menu. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, raising concerns about usability in emergencies.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn't create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom. The Model Y also provided more cargo space, with 68.0 cubic feet compared to the Mach-E's 59.7 cubic feet. The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E featured a decent-sized storage bin between the front seats, a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, and USB ports for both rows.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The screen used a conventional landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, offering a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to feature the new Sync 4 infotainment system, which included wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, while higher trims got a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The 15.5-inch touchscreen displayed almost everything at once, making for a text-heavy and unattractive design. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate control, which were less convenient than physical buttons.

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 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trims included a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was also slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera to monitor for distraction. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600.