2021 Honda HR-V vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its unique styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. It carried forward the sharp design language of the Navigator, characterized by crisp lines and a tasteful use of chrome. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs. It featured distinctive design elements like converging window lines near the taillights. Most trims came with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Sport model boasted matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Inside, the HR-V’s styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. Higher trims offered features like push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered robust performance with its 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, 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 Honda HR-V, on the other hand, was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While AWD was available, the HR-V’s powertrain felt underpowered for highway driving. However, its chassis provided a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads, living up to Honda’s reputation for fun cars. The HR-V’s AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not for rougher terrains, and it lacked towing capability.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 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, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 Honda HR-V impressed with its cargo space, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. It provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models) with the rear seats down, and 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 with AWD) with the seats up. The HR-V led its segment in rear-seat legroom, though front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The interior featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob, making it user-friendly.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape format of the screen provided a natural layout, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with large, easy-to-use icons. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Honda HR-V’s base LX trim included Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport trim and higher levels offered a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports conveniently located ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was smaller compared to competitors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard across all trims.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard safety features from 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 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 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it got “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating. Honda Sensing safety features were available only on the EX and EX-L trims, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.