2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the larger Navigator and the smaller MKC (later replaced by the Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the previous alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's range, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while the low, wide beltline added 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 designed like piano keys. The cabin was filled with plush leather, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra highlighted Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks received significant exterior updates, aligning its design with the new faces of the 2021 Nissan Armada, Ariya, and Rogue. The front featured a bold V-motion design with a new "double V-motion" feature, while the rear had a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination. The Kicks SR trim level came with LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. New paint options were introduced, and the two-tone paint job option continued, enhancing the Kicks' upmarket look. The interior remained mostly the same but featured higher quality materials, new seat and door designs, and a full center console armrest in the mid-range Kicks SV and SR. The Kicks SR Premium Package offered Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching.

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 PHEV provided a smooth driving experience, using electric power at low speeds. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned but effective. The fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg rating, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension made it nimble and easy to handle. Despite being low-powered, the Kicks had a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate power for its size. The CVT could get noisy under heavy acceleration, but this was typical for many CVTs. The Kicks S trim rode on 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV and SR trims had 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The Kicks also came with a traction control system, stability control system, and hill start assist. The Kicks SR had an integrated dynamic-control module with active engine brake, intelligent trace control, and intelligent ride control. The EPA rated the Kicks' fuel economy at 31 mpg city, 36 highway, and 33 combined, with a range of 356 miles on a single tank of gas.

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 had some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats had a massage function, but their controls were split between a door-mounted panel and a touchscreen menu. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, which could be confusing for passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks' small size made its buttons and knobs easy to reach. The cabin had good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple storage options for smartphones. Climate controls were easy to understand and use, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The electronic parking brake freed up center console space. The Kicks offered best-in-class front seat legroom, though the hip room proportions made the front seats feel more compartmentalized. Adults could fit comfortably in the back seats, which was not common in the subcompact class. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage, covering about two-thirds of the rear cargo area.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a landscape layout, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto more user-friendly. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, which provided a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a host of standard tech features, including a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium Package included the class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, including two in the front seat headrests, and Bose signal processing for 360-degree sound. The Kicks also had a surround-view monitor, a WiFi hot spot, and NissanConnect services for convenience and security.

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, and automatic high beams. Other safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, and the SV and SR trims included a driver alertness monitor and rear door alert. The 2020 Kicks received all Good marks in IIHS crashworthiness tests, and the 2021 model was expected to improve with new headlights. The 2020 Kicks received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, and the 2021 model was expected to perform similarly.