2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator showcased a unique and sharply defined exterior design that set it apart from its competitors. Lincoln's approach cleverly avoided imitating other luxury SUVs, instead drawing aesthetic influence from its larger sibling, the Navigator. The Aviator's styling featured crisp lines and a generous amount of chrome, which lent a modern yet distinctly opulent look. This design language, carried forward from its 2020 launch, made the vehicle stand out impressively.

Inside, the Aviator further distanced itself from its Ford Explorer roots with a lavish and comfortable cabin. Soft-touch materials abounded, with chrome accents and a well-constructed center console rising elegantly to a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The cabin exuded warmth and class, enhanced by thoughtful inclusions like the soothing chimes that replaced conventional alert sounds. One unique element was the piano button shifter centrally located on the dash. Though less intuitive than traditional gear levers, Lincoln's layout was sensible and user-friendly.

Trim options like the Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring offered various levels of luxury and equipment. Standard features included synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and 10-way power-adjustable heated front seats. The Reserve trim upped the ante with 12-way power-adjustable front seats, upgraded leather, four-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system.

The Grand Touring trim brought adaptive headlights, a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and the Elements Package Plus, which included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and massaging front seats. The Black Label trim included convenience and luxury packages as standard, boasting a head-up display, wireless charging, a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, and the comprehensive Dynamic Handling Package among its many features.

Historically, Buick has experienced highs and lows in its design journey, but the Enclave aimed to recapture the brand's former glory. It was the largest of Buick's SUVs, standing out with its strong, imposing presence. The premium Avenir trim further enhanced its appeal with a distinctive grille pattern, additional chrome details, and specially finished 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir embraced a minimalist yet upscale aesthetic. Its cabin featured organic forms, polished accents, and an elegant two-tone leather treatment, though the wood trim turned out to be faux. Simplicity reigned in the design, save for the somewhat finicky electronic transmission shifter, which nevertheless became seamless with frequent use.

The Avenir trim's interior was notably sophisticated with 12-way power-adjustable driver seats and a basic massaging function. Front passengers enjoyed 10-way adjustments and heating or ventilation, while the beautifully designed center console provided ample storage and comfort. The seven-passenger configuration included second-row captain’s chairs, bringing a premium feel to the rear seating area. Though the third-row was not the roomiest in class, it offered comfort on par with competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride.

Performance-wise, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator impressed with its robust powertrains. The Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims were equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine generating 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through a 10-speed automatic transmission with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring trims further enhanced performance with a plug-in hybrid version of the twin-turbo V6. This setup boosted output to 494 horsepower and a formidable 630 pound-feet of torque, allowing up to 21 miles of pure electric driving when fully charged.

Driving the Aviator, whether in hybrid mode or not, provided brisk acceleration. Despite its SUV heft noticeably affecting maneuverability in tight spaces and adding body roll in corners, the drive mode selector offered modes like "Excite" for a spirited experience and "Conserve" for fuel efficiency. The Aviator was most at home on highways, offering a smooth and quick driving experience, though it struggled a bit in urban settings.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a consistent 3.6-liter V6 engine across all trims. This engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Buyers had the choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Enclave’s acceleration was notably strong, partly due to the V6's low torque peak. While the Enclave’s size was undeniable, its drive felt much like a smaller SUV, thanks to the responsive nine-speed automatic transmission. Our test vehicle handled smoothly, even showing Buick's signature grace under traction control interventions.

The Lincoln Aviator offered ample cargo space, with 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row. Our test model's power-lift-and-lower third-row seats expanded the cargo capacity to a generous 41.8 cubic feet, and folding all rear seats boasted a total of 77.7 cubic feet. This capacity was excellent within the midsize luxury SUV segment. Furthermore, it featured a standard power tailgate, with the option for a hands-free variant.

The Aviator prioritized second-row comfort, especially evident in the Grand Touring trim with its captain's chairs, accessible center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio settings. Functionality, however, might be set back slightly by the power-button door releases, which could pose a challenge if the battery failed.

The Enclave was one of the roomiest in its class, boasting 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 58 cubic feet with the third row down, and an impressive 97.6 cubic feet with both rows folded. The thoughtful design helped the Enclave achieve remarkable spaciousness without compromising comfort.

Its cabin, accentuated by Buick’s QuietTuning technology with Active Noise Cancellation and laminated glass, ensured a quiet and serene ride. The Avenir trim’s 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a stylish, spacious center console added to the Enclave's premium feel. Although it didn't offer every high-end feature found in the Aviator, the Enclave did provide ample room and comfort for passengers of all sizes.

Fuel efficiency was another strong suit, with the EPA rating it at 21 mpg in combined driving. Our tests confirmed this with an actual economy of 21.2 mpg, translating to a travel range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The Aviator came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the user-friendly Sync 3 infotainment system. This screen’s landscape layout was considered more intuitive compared to Ford's setup. The system offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, displayed prominently with large, easy-to-access icons.

Our test model's digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) included clear graphics and user-friendly functionality. The dashboard's logical layout, combined with redundant controls, ensured that technology in the Aviator matched its luxury aspirations perfectly.

While Buick's technology met basic expectations, it struggled to compete with the high-tech offerings in premium SUVs. The largest touchscreen, on the Avenir trim, was only 8 inches, lagging behind the Aviator's 10.1-inch display. Though it featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, the lack of integration with smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and a moderate 10-speaker Bose system left room for improvement.

However, the Buick Enclave did offer a unique rear camera mirror showing a live video feed, a notable benefit for enhancing visibility while driving. Yet, the overall package fell short when compared to its Lincoln counterpart.

The Aviator came fully loaded with standard safety features via the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Our test model, featuring the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, added advanced technologies like reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control.

The Buick Enclave fell short regarding standard safety features, reserving essentials like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert for higher trims. Advanced technologies were only available in premium trims and packages, with notable absences like lane-centering assistance and self-parking functionality.