2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson presented a more conventional styling compared to its futuristic successor. It featured an upright layout that offered a commanding view of the road, complemented by a modern and attractive dashboard design. The tech features were seamlessly integrated into the overall aesthetic, ensuring that every button and dial was easy to locate. The Tucson was available in several trims, including SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate, each offering a range of features from basic 17-inch alloy wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system to more advanced options like a panoramic sunroof and heated rear seats.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator embraced a distinct design language that set it apart from its competitors. It boasted sharp lines and a generous use of chrome, which enhanced its luxurious appearance. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dash. The Aviator's trims, including Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring, offered a range of features such as synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, ensuring a premium experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, while the SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive. The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, making the 2.4-liter engine a preferable choice for a livelier performance. The Tucson provided a comfortable and refined ride, with a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, on the other hand, came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its 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, increasing output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. This hybrid powertrain allowed for brisk acceleration and up to 21 miles of pure electric range. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered unique modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its performance capabilities. However, its long wheelbase and noticeable body roll in corners made it less agile in city driving.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was slightly below average for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for everyday needs. The Tucson's interior provided solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats for long trips. The rear seats were accommodating enough for adults, and the cabin featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, which increased to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, it provided a total of 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space, making it competitive in the midsize luxury SUV class. The Aviator's second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls enhanced passenger comfort. However, the use of power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery were to die.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape format of the screen provided a natural layout, and the system was easy to use with sensible menu arrangements. The Aviator also came with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons on the screen. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display offered crisp graphics and easy readability.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims provided additional features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped 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 Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.