2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 signaled a more authentic approach, distinct from import brands. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, almost boat-like appearance.

Inside, the Aviator 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 the cabin, even in less obvious places like the sides of the center console. 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 lineup included five trims, with the Standard trim offering a wealth of features, while the higher-end Grand Touring and Black Label trims added even more luxury and performance options.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee. It featured a third-row seat and more cargo volume, making it distinct from the existing two-row Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee L's styling, reminiscent of the upcoming Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, was a strong selling point. It retained Jeep's signature design elements, including the seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, ensuring it looked terrific across all trim levels.

The Grand Cherokee L was available in six trims: Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235. Our test vehicle, a Summit trim with 4WD, metallic paint, and several premium packages, had a sticker price of $64,770. While some interior materials didn't quite match the high price, the Summit's quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology represented a significant improvement over the old model.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with the Explorer, Expedition, and Ford F-150, provided robust performance. The Grand Touring trim took it further by combining the V6 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 offered smooth, confident acceleration and better fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes provided cushioned feedback, aiming for a refined driving experience. The Excite drive mode added some dynamism, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. Fuel economy for the conventional V6 was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, and slightly lower for AWD.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered RWD or three different 4WD systems, with a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with 4WD on higher trims, generated 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined.

Our test vehicle had the V6 engine and 4WD, providing brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic was well-behaved but sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy, averaging 17.8 mpg in testing. The Grand Cherokee L offered a Sport mode and various off-road modes, with the Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension providing up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. The Summit's Quadra-Drive II 4WD system included an electronic locking differential and a low-range transfer case setting, making it capable off-road.

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.

However, the Aviator's interior controls were somewhat confusing. The 30-way seats had a massage function but required navigating a touchscreen menu for full control. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, which could be confusing for passengers. A manual door release was available but only for the driver's door, raising concerns in certain emergency situations.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, especially in Summit trim, offered heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents in all three rows. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly in hot weather.

The Grand Cherokee L's second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades for added convenience. The captain's chairs could tip and slide forward without removing child safety seats, making it easier to access the third row, which was comfortable for all but the tallest adults. The Grand Cherokee L offered 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout, providing a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display offered a wealth of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, available with 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, which integrated well with the dashboard. Uconnect 5 offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The natural voice-recognition system worked well, though it occasionally provided unexpected results.

The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system delivered excellent sound quality, especially for bass-heavy music, though the logo's design felt out of place. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system, making it a tech-savvy choice for families.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with a full array of 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. While effective, the steering assist felt artificial, and lane changes were overly responsive. Jeep planned to upgrade this system to hands-free for the 2022 model year. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect and respond to cross-traffic threats at intersections. Additional safety features included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, which steered the Jeep into parking spaces.

Crash-test ratings for the Grand Cherokee L were unavailable at the time of review, but improvements over the old model were expected.