2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E tried to draw a connection with the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior styling. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, the Mach-E still looked Mustang-like thanks to its thin headlights, long hood, and large (nonfunctional) oval grille. The taillights copied the look of the original Mustang items and featured sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior color palette, including the test car’s Grabber Blue, further reinforced the Mustang connection.

Inside, the electric Mustang was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, which sat awkwardly suspended from the middle of the dashboard. A thin rectangular display served as the instrument cluster, displaying speed as “ground speed,” just like other Mustang models. The rotary gear selector on the center console gave the interior a minimalist feel, very different from most other Ford products but similar to Tesla electric cars. Interior materials were of decent quality, matching the minimalist design theme, but some buyers might have been disappointed by the lack of a leather-upholstery option, even in the top trim levels.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator avoided the temptation to emulate its rivals' style and instead nailed its own unique design. The Aviator, which carried over from the 2020 model, featured crisp lines and heavy use of chrome, making it an incredibly sharp-looking car. Inside, Lincoln differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring plenty of soft-touch materials and chrome accents. The center console rose elegantly to the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dash.

Lincoln also set itself apart with a piano button shifter in the middle of the dash, laid out in a sensible manner. The Aviator featured various soothing chimes instead of typical alerts, contributing to its air of class and luxury. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each adding more luxurious features and options. The Grand Touring trim, for instance, included adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, and Lincoln’s impressive Multi-Contour Seats with a massaging function.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E needed to be sporty to live up to the Mustang name, so Ford made it RWD by default and decently powerful. The base RWD Select model made 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to get from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, which packed 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, achieving zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

The test car had the lower-level AWD powertrain, good for 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feeling thanks to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension made for poor ride quality, not helped by the 19-inch wheels. Ford provided three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. The Mach-E also offered one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 in the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD or available AWD. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured the same V6 but in a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with up to 21 miles of pure electric range.

The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The long wheelbase made it awkward to maneuver in tight spaces. The Aviator had a drive mode selector with names like “Excite” and “Conserve,” appropriate for its non-performance SUV nature. The Aviator was well-suited for highways and cul-de-sacs but struggled in city driving.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV, but its packaging was more like a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was fairly low, and the low roofline didn’t create a feeling of spaciousness, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom in both rows. The Mach-E provided 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and 59.7 cubic feet with it folded, along with a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk.

Ford managed to squeeze a decent-sized storage bin between the front seats, under a flip-up armrest. A large, flat area beneath the touchscreen was perfect for storing smartphones, featuring a grippy rubberized surface and a wireless charging pad. USB ports were included for both the first and second rows.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which could be power-lifted and lowered to increase capacity to 41.8 cubic feet. With all rear seats folded, the Aviator offered 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls.

One potential issue was the use of power-button door releases, which could be problematic if the battery ever died. The second-row console included toggles for the panoramic sunroof visor, adding to the Aviator's luxurious feel.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to get the new Sync 4 infotainment system, which included wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and capability for over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, with Premium, GT, and First Edition models getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The 15.5-inch touchscreen was a signature feature, but its size was the only noteworthy aspect. The screen displayed almost everything at once, making for a text-heavy and unattractive design. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders, which were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The screen extended from the dash in a landscape format, making for a natural layout. The Sync 3 system was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and redundant controls in the center stack. The Aviator also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented well on the screen with large icons.

The Aviator featured an easy-to-toggle fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display (HUD) with large, crisp graphics and multiple muted colors, making it easy on the eyes.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, a reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. A 360-degree camera system was standard on higher trim levels.

The Mach-E was slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated stretches of divided highway. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600, with hardware included at launch.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came well-equipped with standard driver assistance features as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Grand Touring 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 the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS.