2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was a standout with its distinct and sharp styling, which wisely avoided mimicking its competitors. With crisp lines and generous use of chrome, the Aviator carried an elegant and bold presence. Its exterior was a testament to Lincoln’s successful design overhaul initiated with the larger Navigator. The interior further impressed with crisp lines, soft-touch materials, and chrome accents. The elegant rise of the center console to a 10.1-inch touchscreen blended sophistication and functionality.

A specific highlight inside the Aviator was the piano button shifter, strategically positioned for intuitive use. Lincoln deviated from the traditional alerts, opting for soothing chimes that added to the luxury ambiance. Trim levels included Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring, each escalating in luxury and features. The Grand Touring trim we reviewed boasted a hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, and multi-contour seats with a massaging function, ensuring a lavish driving experience.

In comparison, the 2021 Lexus RX displayed a modern aesthetic with its large grille, angular headlamps, and floating roof design. The RX was available in five variants: RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid, maintaining the changes made in 2020 that included elongated headlights and a revised front end. It featured standard 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and integrated side mirrors with LED turn signals. Upgrades included 20-inch wheels, triple-beam LED headlights, and heavy-duty heaters.

The RX interior, even in the base RX 350 model, offered comfortable seating with NuLuxe-trimmed seats, power-adjustable front seats, and chrome door handles. Higher trims added semi-aniline leather upholstery, captain’s chairs, and sport seats. However, the design of the center console, with its dated look and functional yet uninspired infotainment system, stood out negatively against modern competitors.

Under the hood, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator’s Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims packed a robust 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 generating 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This powertrain offered impressive acceleration and a smooth driving experience.

The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims upgraded with a plug-in hybrid configuration. This added an electric motor that boosted total output to an exhilarating 494 hp and a staggering 630 pound-feet of torque. With a full charge, this hybrid setup could manage up to 21 miles on electric power alone. The Aviator felt smooth but hefty during brisk acceleration and encountered noticeable body roll in corners. Its long wheelbase added to its highway comfort but made city maneuvers slightly cumbersome.

Conversely, the 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport carried a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivered a smooth ride but sometimes struggled with gear shifts during acceleration. The EPA rated the front-wheel-drive (FWD) RX 350 at 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. Hybrid models combined a V6 engine with three electric motors to offer 308 hp and a highly efficient 29 to 31 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, depending on the configuration.

The RX excelled in low-speed maneuverability and felt planted in corners with its AWD setup, though some body roll was evident at higher speeds. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and enhanced driver engagement. In terms of speed, the RX was limited to 124 mph and could accelerate to 60 mph in about 7.7 to 7.9 seconds, making it a decent, if not exhilarating, performer.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator excelled in cargo space, offering 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row. Power-lift-and-lower third-row seats expanded this to 41.8 cubic feet, and with all rear seats folded, the Aviator boasted a spacious 77.7 cubic feet. This put it near the top of the midsize luxury SUV class for cargo capacity. The second row, particularly in the Grand Touring model with captain's chairs and a central console featuring a digital control panel for climate and audio controls, offered a superb level of comfort and convenience. However, the innovative power-button door releases posed a potential issue in the event of a battery failure.

The Lexus RX, on the other hand, lagged in cargo capacity compared to the Aviator. The two-row variants offered 18.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to 56.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The three-row versions provided just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second, and a maximum of 58.5 cubic feet with all rows folded. This was significantly less than the Aviator, and even smaller SUVs like the Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V offered more cargo space. Nevertheless, the RX ensured a comfortable ride with spacious seating in the first two rows, though the third row was tight.

In the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system stood out for its user-friendly layout and large, clear icons. The landscape format of the screen felt natural, unlike the tall layout found in some Ford models. Sync 3's sensible menu arrangement, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto being prominently featured, added to its appeal. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics further enhanced the tech-savvy interior.

The Lexus RX sported an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on the base model, with options to upgrade to a 12.3-inch screen. Standard tech features included dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a nine-speaker sound system. The touchpad controller for the infotainment system, designed to keep hands off the screen, didn’t strike the same chord in terms of ease of use compared to the Aviator’s setup. Moreover, the RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which limited its appeal in the tech department.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator impressed with its robust suite of safety features. The standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package 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, available in higher trims, added features such as reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top safety marks from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the IIHS Top Safety Pick accolade.

The Lexus RX also received commendable safety ratings, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation with all Good marks in crashworthiness tests. The NHTSA gave the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h a four out of five stars overall rating, with a perfect score for side-impact crashworthiness. Standard safety features across all RX models included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 2.0. This system encompassed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and road sign assist.