2021 Jeep Cherokee vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair. Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names was a positive sign, indicating a move away from copying imports. The Aviator featured a unified look across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered, giving it an elongated look, and the low, wide beltline added a boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin had a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were elegant and sturdy, and the shifter buttons had a piano-key design. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using soft-touch materials throughout, including plush leather on the dash, door panels, and center console sides. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had mellowed since its debut. While the short grille opening and swept-back headlights were initially polarizing, they looked better proportioned over time. The exterior appearance varied significantly with trim levels. The entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and FWD looked basic, while the 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding looked much nicer. Jeep consistently maximized roof utility, offering an optional panoramic sunroof that covered the entire top surface. The Cherokee stood out in a crowded crossover SUV market, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front.

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 RWD or AWD, while the 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 experience, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. 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 rating, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 MPGe combined rating.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options. The Latitude and Latitude Plus trims had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower. The 3.2-liter V-6 engine, available on higher trims, produced 271 hp. The top-tier engine was the 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder, generating 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration was modest, with the V6 and turbo-four engines achieving 0-60 mph times of about 7.2 and 7.4 seconds, respectively. All Cherokee models used a nine-speed automatic transmission, which had proven to be capable and fuel-efficient. The Cherokee Trailhawk model excelled off-road, thanks to features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. The Cherokee was available in FWD to keep prices competitive, but most buyers preferred the AWD versions for better performance and capability.

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 interior had some confusing controls, like 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, which could be problematic in certain situations.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee filled a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 55 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it at the bottom among compact SUVs. The Cherokee offered about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in that metric. The interior layout was simple and businesslike, with variations in quality depending on the trim level. The Latitude trim had a lot of rubberized black plastic, while the Trailhawk and Latitude Lux trims offered more upscale materials like suede seat inserts and perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup provided a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons and readouts. 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 Jeep Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, available with a 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with easy access to climate controls and minimal latency issues. The Cherokee supported wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offered a 4G WiFi hotspot, and integrated with Amazon Alexa. Remote start was available, adding convenience for drivers in various climates.

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

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but received top "Good" scores in every crashworthiness category and a G+ score for LATCH child seat anchors. The NHTSA gave the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included lane departure warning with lane keep assist, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available on the Limited and Trailhawk trims.