2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Corsair), marked a return to real vehicle names for Lincoln, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift was a positive sign, indicating Lincoln's effort to stand out rather than mimic imports. 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, 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, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury. The lineup included five trims, with the Standard trim offering a wealth of features, while the Grand Touring and Black Label trims added even more luxury and performance options.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out in the crowded midsize SUV market with its distinctive design. Its front end, while less dramatic than the Sienna minivan, featured wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The side profile had a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and the taillights borrowed elements from Lexus models. Overall, the Highlander looked longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size.

For 2021, Toyota introduced the XSE trim, which added a more aggressive front end, suspension tuning, and an appearance package. The Limited trim, just below the Platinum, featured chrome roof rails and accents, giving it an upscale look. Inside, the Highlander excelled in fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim. The wood details, though not real, looked fabulous. The Highlander prioritized comfort and convenience, making it an excellent choice for families.

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, but its 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. 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 MPGe rating.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Highlander Hybrid was available as a separate model. The powertrain was adequate for daily driving, with enough power for highway merging and city driving. Compared to competitors, the Highlander held its own, offering similar horsepower and torque to the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, while the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer ST offered more power at a higher price.

The Highlander had a soft and comfortable suspension, making it ideal for family trips. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar for a slightly sportier feel. However, it remained a family-focused vehicle rather than a performance-oriented one.

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.

The Aviator's interior featured some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release function was unnecessarily complicated. The manual door release worked only for the driver's door, raising concerns about emergency situations.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured shelves ahead of the front seats for storing large cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords. A wireless charging pad was standard on trims above the LE. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to maximize space. The third row could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted.

The Highlander had 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, enough for small trips. Folding the third row provided 48.4 cubic feet, and folding both the second and third rows offered 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space. However, the rear-seat climate control air vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing directly on passengers' heads, which could be uncomfortable.

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 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Limited trim offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen as an option. The Platinum trim had the 12.3-inch screen as standard. Both systems were user-friendly, but navigation was an optional feature. The system struggled with points of interest, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard. The 12.3-inch screen was bright, crisp, and fast, but only certain apps used the full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but wasn't overly impressive.

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 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. This system could recognize oncoming vehicles at intersections and engage automatic emergency braking when necessary. Other features included road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).