2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Buick Encore GX

The 2021 Buick Encore GX was a significant improvement in styling over its predecessor, the original Encore. The new model featured well-proportioned lines and a more appealing design, shedding the awkwardness of the earlier version. Available in three trims—Preferred, Select, and Essence—the Encore GX also offered a Sport Touring (ST) package for a sportier look. Buyers could choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), with two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter for FWD and a 1.3-liter for both FWD and AWD. The test model, an Essence trim with a 1.3-liter engine, included several upgrades, bringing the MSRP to $35,065. Despite the high price, Buick offered significant discounts for GM customers and attractive lease deals for non-GM owners.

Inside, the Encore GX's cabin met the expected quality levels for a small SUV, though it lacked the refinement to justify its premium price. The interior design was less clean than the exterior, with hard-to-read analog gauges and a vibrating head-up display (HUD) that detracted from the overall experience. Sunlight made the fuel gauge indicator lights difficult to see, and the HUD's plastic projection screen vibrated on anything but smooth pavement, highlighting the vehicle's lack of refinement.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, introduced as a 2020 model, carried over its sharp design into 2021. Lincoln avoided mimicking its rivals and instead adopted the successful styling of the larger Navigator. The Aviator featured crisp lines and chrome accents, making it one of the few modern cars to benefit from heavy chrome use. Inside, the Aviator's cabin was a testament to comfort and warmth, with soft-touch materials and a center console that elegantly rose to a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter added a unique touch, and the soothing chimes for alerts contributed to the luxurious feel.

The Aviator came in five trims: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim included synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a power liftgate. The Reserve trim added upgraded leather, four-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system. The Grand Touring trim, which we tested, featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and Lincoln's Multi-Contour Seats with a massaging function. The Black Label trims added even more luxury features, including a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system and a Dynamic Handling Package.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The standard 1.2-liter engine produced 137 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm, making the 3,000-lb. SUV feel sprightly. However, the 1.3-liter engine was the preferred choice, delivering 155 hp at 5,600 rpm and 174 lb-ft of torque at just 1,600 rpm. Despite the power, the driving experience was best described as adequate. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. The ride quality was inconsistent, feeling brittle over poorly maintained roads and bouncy over bumps. Despite Buick's QuietTuning efforts, the cabin wasn't particularly quiet, and the overall lack of refinement was noticeable.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain offered brisk acceleration and a smooth power delivery, though the Aviator's heft was noticeable in corners. The drive mode selector included options like "Excite" and "Conserve," adding a touch of personality to the driving experience. The Aviator excelled on highways and in suburban settings but struggled in city driving.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX offered a high seating position and supportive front seats, though they lacked lateral bolstering. The test vehicle featured power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were less comfortable, with limited legroom and a low, flat cushion. Interior storage was good, with 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The test vehicle included a hands-free power liftgate and a fold-flat front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 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 was particularly comfortable, featuring captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. The power-button door releases were a unique feature, though their functionality in the event of a dead battery was a concern.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX Essence featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and Buick Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The test vehicle also included a navigation system, natural voice recognition, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a high-definition surround-view camera. Despite the added packages, the test car lacked the available 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick response times, impressive voice recognition, and a simple interface.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape layout of the screen made for a more natural user experience compared to the tall layout in the Ford Explorer. The system was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and redundant controls in the center stack. The Aviator also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons that took up the entire screen. The test model featured an optional head-up display with crisp graphics and multiple muted colors.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX came standard with Buick Driver Confidence, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, and adaptive cruise control was available. The Encore GX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but had not been tested by the IIHS.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Grand Touring test model included the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, adding reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS.