2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

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 chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a piano button shifter. The soothing chimes and massaging front seats in higher trims added to its air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer aimed to evoke the excitement of a sports car with its aggressive styling, inspired by the Camaro. The Blazer's exterior featured slim-cut windows, sawblade 20-inch wheels, and a bold front end. However, the interior fell short, with low-rent materials and an undersized central screen. Despite its sporty exterior, the Blazer's cabin did not match the quality of its competitors, making it feel dated and cheap.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). 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, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator excelled in highway driving but struggled with body roll in corners and tight city maneuvers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, with the base 2.5-liter inline-four engine delivering 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, which felt underpowered. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, provided 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The preferred engine was the 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim, producing 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The RS trim also featured a sport-tuned suspension and a mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, enhancing its handling. However, the transmission calibration had issues, particularly in Sport mode, and the lack of paddle shifters made manual mode cumbersome.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered ample cargo space, with 18.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding 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 captain's chairs and digital control panel in the Grand Touring trim added to the comfort and functionality. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about potential issues if the battery died.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. The low roof height did not compromise interior space, and the seats were mounted lower for easy entry and exit. Cargo space was 64 cubic feet with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. The Blazer excelled in towing capacity, with a maximum of 4,500 pounds when equipped with the trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine. The controls were user-friendly, and features like the hands-free power tailgate and heated steering wheel added convenience.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape layout that felt natural. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, which was quick and easy to use. The RS trim added wireless phone charging, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. The "Plus" version of the infotainment system included navigation, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Standard driver assists on most trims included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

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, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added 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 Chevrolet Blazer received an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests, though its headlights received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking on top trims. However, it lacked rear emergency braking and GM's inboard side airbag.