2020 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

During the 2020 Mazda CX-30's development, a decision was made to cover its lower perimeter with thick gray plastic cladding. This choice was widely regarded as a mistake, as it detracted from the vehicle's otherwise appealing design. The excessive cladding made the 18-inch wheels appear too small and gave the CX-30 a perpetually lifted look, as if it were on a hydraulic lift awaiting service.

Despite this, the CX-30's design was generally well-received, especially its luxurious interior. The cabin felt upscale above the midpoint, with soft-touch materials and a refined aesthetic. However, below that line, hard plastics were prevalent, which was expected given the vehicle's price point. The CX-30's pricing started at $21,900, with various trims and options pushing the cost up to $32,120 for a fully loaded model.

Lincoln's approach with the 2021 Aviator was to avoid mimicking its competitors' styles, instead drawing inspiration from the successful Navigator. The Aviator's design featured crisp lines and chrome accents, making it one of the few modern cars that benefited from heavy chrome use. The interior was equally impressive, with a focus on comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dash.

The Aviator's cabin was defined by its comfort and luxury, with features like a piano button shifter and soothing chimes for alerts. The trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each adding more luxurious features and advanced technology. Our test model, the Grand Touring, included a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and massaging front seats, making it a standout in terms of both performance and comfort.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 was powered by a smooth and refined 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 186 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 186 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Despite these competitive figures, the CX-30's weight of 3,408 pounds and lack of a turbocharged engine option limited its performance, especially at higher altitudes. The 6-speed sport automatic transmission, however, was excellent, making the most of the available power and offering paddle shifters in the Premium trim.

The CX-30's driving dynamics were a mixed bag. While it felt slower and less agile compared to the sporty Mazda3, it was still sprightly compared to other small SUVs. The higher center of gravity and torsion beam axle rear suspension resulted in exaggerated ride motions and body lean. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-30's steering, braking, and driver communication remained sharp, ensuring a satisfying driving experience for most users. Fuel economy was a downside, with an average of 23.9 mpg in real-world testing, and a smaller gas tank reducing the driving range.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a more powerful performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid setup, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, and offering up to 21 miles of electric-only driving.

The Aviator's hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the vehicle's heft and long wheelbase made it less agile in tight spaces. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing the driving experience. While the Aviator excelled on highways and in suburban settings, it struggled with city driving due to its size and weight.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30's higher ground clearance made entry and exit easier compared to the Mazda3. Inside, the cabin felt upscale and elegant, with soft padding on the center console and door armrests. The driving position was excellent, and the analog gauges were easy to read. Cloth seating was standard, with simulated leather in Select and Preferred trims, and genuine leather in Premium trim. However, the rear seat was cramped, and cargo space was limited to 20.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered more generous interior space, with 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row was particularly comfortable, especially in the Grand Touring model with captain's chairs and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. The use of power-button door releases was a potential issue, as they might fail if the battery died.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 featured an 8.8-inch static display for its infotainment system, which was not a touchscreen to improve driver focus. However, the controls were not always intuitive, making the system challenging to use while driving. Standard technology included Bluetooth, HD Radio, Pandora, and Mazda Connected Services with a 3-year trial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available from the Select trim, and the Premium trim offered a 12-speaker Bose sound system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was user-friendly and featured a sensible menu layout. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system displayed these programs well. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 excelled in safety, with standard features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Select trim added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, while Premium trim included adaptive front lights. The CX-30 received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with Premium trim.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator also offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.