2021 INFINITI QX50 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 showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. Its design was unified across Lincoln's sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, featuring handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. The Aviator's roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while its low, wide beltline provided 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 INFINITI QX50 stood out in the crowded luxury compact crossover segment with its distinctive design and engineering. The QX50 featured a large honeycomb grille, a curved hood with athletic bulges, and a distinctive chrome strip reminiscent of a lightning bolt. The panoramic moonroof stretched from the front row to the cargo area, brightening the cabin and offering magnificent views. However, the thick B-pillars and short rear window opening slightly hindered outward visibility. The Sensory AWD test vehicle came with attractive 20-inch silver-painted machine finish alloy wheels and all-season run-flat tires. Inside, the QX50's cabin featured nicely textured soft-touch materials, aluminum interior trim accents, and a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. The front seats offered heating and cooling, and the interior controls were easy to use, with actual knobs and buttons for radio and climate control settings. The QX50's gear shift lever was traditional, except for the Park button, which took some getting used to.

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 Excite drive mode offered a more dynamic driving experience, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17, 24, and 20 mpg. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, a 21-mile electric-only range, and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The QX50's VC-Turbo engine adjusted the compression ratio for optimal power and efficiency. The engine operated smoothly and quietly, though the CVT's droning was noticeable. The QX50 offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available for an additional cost. The drive mode selector allowed drivers to choose between Standard, Sport, Eco, and Personal modes, adjusting engine torque, transmission shift points, and steering effort. Sport mode provided brisk acceleration and increased steering effort, while Eco mode conserved fuel but felt sluggish. The QX50's AWD system provided reassurance during a rainy, construction-zone-laden Interstate drive, keeping the vehicle composed and stable.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator's three-row seating placed it in the same category as 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's seats and door handles were somewhat confusing, with seat controls split between a door-mounted panel and a center touchscreen menu. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button on the back of the handle and a recessed button for exiting the car. A manual door release was available only for the driver's door, raising concerns about accessibility in emergencies.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 felt spacious inside, with ample hip and shoulder room in both the front and rear seats. Headroom was plentiful, even with the panoramic moonroof. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 38.7 inches of legroom, allowing for comfortable seating. The sliding second-row seats enabled owners to maximize either rear-seat legroom or cargo space. The cargo area offered 31.1 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats with the moonroof, expanding to 64.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Without the moonroof, cargo space increased to 31.4 and 65.1 cubic feet, respectively. The optional Cargo package included a reversible cargo area protector, cargo blocks, and nets, making it convenient for transporting groceries and lake toys. The QX50 also featured ample cupholders, storage bins, and charging options, including USB ports and a 12-volt charging port.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The landscape layout of the screen provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the portrait layout in the Ford Explorer. The Aviator's fully digital instrument panel and massive head-up display offered a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured Infiniti's InTouch infotainment system with dual display screens—an 8-inch upper LCD/VGA and a 7-inch lower color unit. The system included voice recognition and Infiniti InTouch Services, offering navigation, entertainment, communications, convenience, concierge, and safety features. Pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth was easy, and Apple CarPlay integration worked seamlessly. The 16-speaker Bose Performance Series premium audio system delivered crisp, powerful audio. The QX50 also came with Infiniti's Around View Monitor with front and rear sonar system and moving-object detection, making parking less stressful. ProPilot Assist, available on all but the base Pure trim level, combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance, providing a glimpse of the autonomous driving future.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator included standard safety features such as front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite offered forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 boasted a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including blind-spot warning, predictive forward-collision warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, automatic collision notification, emergency call, rearview monitor, hill-start assist, and high-beam assist. Lane-departure prevention and blind-spot intervention were standard on all but the base Pure trim level, while traffic sign recognition was standard on Essential and higher trims. The QX50 received four out of five stars for rollover resistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Good ratings for moderate overlap front and side crash protection from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The QX50 also earned a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention from the IIHS.