2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its rivals' 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 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, which evolved from the second-generation MKX, featured a facelift in 2019 that brought more attractive styling and a new name. For 2021, the exterior remained largely unchanged, but the cabin received a significant update. The new dash design included clean lines, soft materials, and a large 13.2-inch touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was easy to use, and the SYNC 4 infotainment system was user-friendly and visually appealing.

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 managed by 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 version of the same engine, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth power delivery, although the Aviator's heft could result in noticeable body roll in corners.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, producing 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the four-cylinder offering FWD or AWD and the V6 coming standard with AWD. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that minimized road bumps and maintained composure through corners.

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 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim with captain's chairs and a digital control panel, offered the most comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with 37.2 cubic feet available with the rear seats in use. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with ample head- and legroom in the rear seats and optimal front seats featuring 22-way multi-contour power adjustments. The center console and door handles provided additional comfort, and the floating center controls design allowed for extra storage.

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

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were well-integrated, and the available wireless charging pad added convenience. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard 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 Lincoln Nautilus included the standard CoPilot360 package, featuring automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.