2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee 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 standard 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite being over a decade old, maintained a timeless and appealing design. Its rugged utility and upscale sophistication were evident in its flared fenders and big wheels. The Grand Cherokee's interior, especially in the Summit trim, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum. However, the aging switchgear and non-flush panel fits indicated that a redesign was overdue. The Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme provided a sharp contrast, enhancing the cabin's luxurious feel.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 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. This power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth swell of power, although the Aviator's long wheelbase made it awkward to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, provided a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8's cylinder deactivation technology allowed for better fuel efficiency, although it still managed only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension made it capable off-road, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it practical for daily driving.

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 folded. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model with captain's chairs and a digital control panel, was particularly comfortable. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, while comfortable, had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia, but large side windows and a panoramic sunroof helped alleviate this. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. Practical features included a recessed bin for carrying items and a power liftgate closing button.

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 made for a natural layout, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav setup offered a nearly flawless user experience, with fast response to inputs and pleasing touchscreen graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was otherwise "tech lite," offering essential features without much additional technology.

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, 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee's safety ratings were less impressive. While the 4WD model received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, the 2WD model's rating dropped to four stars due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS gave the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. However, the Summit trim included numerous safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also offered a backup camera, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.