2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that set it apart from its Ford Expedition counterpart. The Navigator's unique front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, created a welcoming ambiance. The lattice-type grille with an illuminated star, fender vents, and full-width taillights were distinctive design elements. The Navigator Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Dark Slate leather interior, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and mid-century modern styling cues provided a convincingly luxurious experience.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, carrying over from its 2020 debut, adopted the Navigator's successful design language with crisp lines and chrome accents. The Aviator's interior, based on the Ford Explorer platform, offered a comfortable and warm cabin with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury. The Aviator's trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each offering various levels of comfort and technology, with the Grand Touring trim featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain and massaging Multi-Contour Seats.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with an option for four-wheel drive. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, though fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg. The SUV's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable with 22-inch wheels. The Navigator's size made it feel huge around town, but features like a tight turning radius and parking assist system improved maneuverability.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive options. The Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric range. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The Aviator's drive mode selector included modes like Excite and Conserve, suitable for highway and cul-de-sac driving but less composed in city driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, passengers enjoyed ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and heated steering wheel provided exceptional comfort. The second row offered a choice between a bench or captain's chairs, with heated rear seat cushions and triple-zone climate control. The third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were impressive, with up to 103.3 cubic feet in the standard-length model and 120.2 cubic feet in the Navigator L.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second row, especially with captain's chairs and a center console, provided the best seating experience. The digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls added convenience. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load, but it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, and wireless device charging. The voice recognition system required specific command pathways. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape layout that made for a natural user experience. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy use. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics and muted colors.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 package, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator also came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. The Co-Pilot360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS.