2021 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (later replaced by the Lincoln Corsair) in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language 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 added a boat-like appearance.

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. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The lineup included five trims: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring, each offering various luxury features and options.

The 2021 Subaru Ascent, introduced in 2019, filled a long-overdue gap in Subaru's lineup for a three-row SUV. It resembled a scaled-up version of the Forester and Outback, with a cabin design similar to other Subaru models. This design consistency likely aimed to connect the Ascent with Subaru's other popular models. The Ascent's trims included Standard, Premium, Limited, and Touring, each offering a range of features.

The Standard trim came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, tri-zone climate control, and driver-assistance features. The Premium trim upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen, stain-resistant upholstery, and heated front seats. The Limited trim added push-button start, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated second-row seats. The top-tier Touring trim included second-row captain's chairs, ventilated front seats, ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo system.

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 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 driving experience was refined, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The Aviator featured an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic experience, though it remained a 5,600-pound SUV. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17, 24, and 20 mpg. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. While some might prefer a premium engine option, the standard engine was effective for most driving scenarios, excelling in city driving and holding its own on highways.

The Ascent's ride focused on refined comfort, with responsive handling and the ability to absorb road bumps. It featured 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for snowy conditions and light off-roading. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and included a standard Trailer Stability Assist.

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 better 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 featured 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 on the back of the handle, which could be confusing for passengers. A manual door release was available but only for the driver's door.

The 2021 Subaru Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 86.5 cubic feet with all rear seats down. While this was on the higher end of the midsize three-row SUV class, some rivals offered more cargo space. The Ascent came standard with a power liftgate but lacked a hands-free option.

The Ascent could seat up to eight passengers in its base configuration, with the option for second-row captain's chairs reducing capacity to seven. The first two rows were spacious, with ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was better suited for kids on longer trips. The Ascent featured 19 cupholders and numerous trays and cubbies for gear.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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 Subaru Ascent's StarLink infotainment system had logical menu layouts and large, easy-to-read icons. Both available touchscreens were backed by hard buttons and dials, as well as a home button. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Ascent came with two front USB ports, two second-row USB ports, satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. Available tech features included third-row USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assistance systems including 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 Subaru Ascent was an IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+ due to its crash test results and comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, called EyeSight. This included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning. EyeSight also had a feature that alerted drivers if the vehicle in front had pulled away when stopped. For 2021, the Ascent gained standard automatic high beams and headlights that bent with the steering angle. Optional safety features included reverse automatic emergency braking, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.