2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair, in the Lincoln 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. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra showcased Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Lexus NX carried over familial design and styling attributes, with sharp design lines that made it resemble the smaller Lexus UX and larger Lexus RX. The NX featured power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels as standard. The F Sport variant added a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels with all-season or summer tires. Inside, the NX F Sport models had quilted NuLuxe sport seats, with options for Circuit Red interior and other traditional colorways. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a familiar gauge cluster featuring a sculpted metal-faced four-dial setup. However, the center stack showed its age with an elevated climate-control button setup and a rare CD player, limiting open small-item storage between the driver and passenger.

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, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned, offering a refined driving experience. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined for RWD, and 17, 24, 20 for AWD.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as newer eight-, nine-, or 10-speed transmissions. The NX could accelerate from 0-60 mph in around seven seconds, with the powertrain becoming noisy under hard acceleration. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trims, allowing up to 50 percent of torque to be transferred to the rear axle. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22 mpg city, 28 highway, 25 combined, while AWD models had the same city/highway numbers but 24 mpg combined. The NX F Sport AWD also achieved 24 mpg combined. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed of 124 mph. The adaptive-suspension system provided a smooth, comfortable driving experience, though the steering was numb.

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. 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 a complicated seat-control system and an unconventional door-release function. The manual door release worked only for the driver's door, raising concerns about accessibility in emergencies.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and adequate legroom for two adults in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the NX offered a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The NX's cargo space was limited, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it one of the smallest in its class. The NX featured a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats. Engine noise could be heard in the cabin, but road and wind noise were minimal, typical of a Lexus.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The screen used a 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 Lexus NX had an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system added HomeLink and Lexus Enform Destination Assist for 2021. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the Lexus infotainment system was less user-friendly, relying on a touchpad. Other standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The NX offered a moonroof, heated steering wheel, and a Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system on the top-tier model. The Lexus Enform Remote mobile app allowed users to control various functions remotely, with a free three-year trial subscription included.

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 Lexus NX featured Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights as optional extras. The NX received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, a "Superior" rating for front crash-prevention technology, and an "Acceptable" score for the LATCH system's ease of use. The NHTSA gave the NX a five-star overall safety rating. Lexus backed the NX with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.