2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Corsair), showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift signaled a departure from merely copying 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 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, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4, on the other hand, embraced a rugged-looking exterior reminiscent of traditional SUVs, with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end. This aggressive styling set it apart from previous RAV4 generations and other compact crossovers. Underneath, the RAV4 was based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with other Toyota models. The RAV4 Adventure model added a retro look with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, while the TRD Off-Road featured matte black wheels, LED fog lights, and red interior accents. Inside, the RAV4 had rugged styling touches like large rubberized knobs and door handles. Material quality was good on lower trims but didn't elevate with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model had SofTex upholstery, which was lighter and durable but lacked real leather, even on the top Limited trim.

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. 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 driving experience was refined, with an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic feel. 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 Toyota RAV4 featured a "Dynamic Force" 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency, a level typically found in racing engines, and had a power peak at 6,600 rpm. However, the transmission struggled to keep up, and the steering lacked feel, making the driving experience less dynamic. The RAV4 had a "Sport" mode, but it only added weight to the steering. On the highway, the RAV4 was quieter and more comfortable, with a suspension that absorbed road imperfections well. The RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road models had a torque-vectoring rear axle, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity, enhancing their off-road capability. However, the RAV4's off-road performance was limited by its suspension articulation and approach, departure, and breakover angles.

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. However, the Aviator's controls were somewhat confusing, with seat controls 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 problematic in certain situations.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a tall, upright roof providing good headroom and outward visibility. However, legroom in both rows was slightly behind competitors. The front seats in the TRD Off-Road model were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions, making long trips less appealing. The RAV4 had a 60/40 split-folding rear seat but lacked the sliding feature found in some competitors. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, above average but behind the Honda CR-V. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were user-friendly, even with gloves on. The center-console storage bin and smartphone holder were large, but the console itself lacked storage space. The RAV4's styling emulated old-school SUVs, with larger controls but smaller cupholders and storage areas.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the Ford Explorer's portrait layout. 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 RAV4 offered standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Limited model had an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid had a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a well-positioned touchscreen and easy-to-read graphics. However, it wasn't very flashy, and the gasoline RAV4 didn't have the head-up display available on the RAV4 Prime.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator included standard safety features like front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite offered forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. However, it missed the "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to mixed headlight scores. The NHTSA gave the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, park assist, and a 360-degree camera system.