2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair. The Aviator's design featured a unified look across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated appearance, while the low, wide beltline added a boat-like look. 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 deep commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn't see any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. The GX's tough, aggressive look was distinctive, but the interior didn't meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim in the Premium test car felt like molded plastic, and there was plenty of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, with semi-aniline leather on the Luxury trim. The GX's interior ergonomics were outdated, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. However, the dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, 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. 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 but effective. The Excite drive mode offered a more dynamic experience, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its agility. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, and 17, 24, and 20 for AWD.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 5,130-pound weight affected its performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. The V8 engine provided ample grunt at low speeds, but merging and overtaking required careful planning. Stopping the GX also required advanced planning, and its body-on-frame construction resulted in low grip and body roll in corners. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the refinement of unibody SUVs. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and Crawl Control. The GX had 8.1 inches of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles. It could tow up to 6,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator's three-row configuration 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. 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 controls were somewhat confusing, with complicated seat controls and an unconventional door-release function. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release button was unnecessarily complicated.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were small, and the second-row cupholders took up space in the fold-down armrest. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, with a power-folding third row available on the Premium and standard on the Luxury trim. However, accessing the third row was difficult, and it was best reserved for children. The GX had less cargo space than the Land Rover Discovery, with 64.7 cubic feet compared to the Discovery's 73.0 cubic feet. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The landscape layout 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, offering a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions, with a seven-segment display for time and temperature. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric interfaces. The GX also offered a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

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 Lexus GX 460 included the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.