2021 BMW X3 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, chrome accents, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

The Aviator offered various trims, starting with the Standard trim, which included synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a power liftgate. The Reserve trim added features like upgraded leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, 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 with features like a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system and a Dynamic Handling Package.

The 2021 BMW X3, introduced in its third generation in 2018, received updates in 2020, including a plug-in hybrid model and M performance variants. The redesign refined the X3's formula, giving it the exterior and interior presence of larger BMW models. The X3's exterior resembled a downsized X5, while the interior featured BMW's cold, mechanical styling. Although not as aesthetically pleasing as some rivals, the X3's dash was highly functional.

The X3 came in several trims: sDrive30i, xDrive30i, M40i, and the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid. The sDrive30i and xDrive30i included standard features like 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, and a 10.2-inch infotainment system. The M40i trim added 19-inch alloy wheels, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, and an M Sport suspension. The xDrive30e plug-in hybrid offered brisk acceleration and a 17-mile electric-only range.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator's Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims featured a 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, with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its highway and cul-de-sac performance, though it struggled in city driving due to its heft and long wheelbase.

The 2021 BMW X3's sDrive30i and xDrive30i trims came with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 248 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The sDrive30i featured RWD, while the xDrive30i had AWD. The xDrive30e plug-in hybrid produced 288 hp and offered a 17-mile electric-only range, with a recharge time of 3.5 hours using a 240-volt Level 2 charger. The M40i trim boasted a 382-hp twin-turbo inline-six engine, providing robust acceleration and responsive cornering. For those seeking even more performance, the X3 M model offered 473 hp.

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 a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model with captain's chairs and a digital control panel, offered exceptional comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 BMW X3 offered up to 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.7 cubic feet with the seats in use. The X3's interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The front row featured real buttons and dials, complementing the main touchscreen and reducing the learning curve for new drivers.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape layout of the screen made for a natural user experience, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also offered a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2021 BMW X3 came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running the iDrive infotainment system, which was user-friendly and offered both touch and dial operation. The X3 included Apple CarPlay as standard, with Android Auto as an option. Other available features included wireless device charging, a fully digital instrument panel, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo system. The optional gesture control allowed for basic controls through hand movements.

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 Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like 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.

The 2021 BMW X3 included standard advanced driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, headlights that bend with the road, and a head-up display.