2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. It carried forward the sharp design language of the Navigator, featuring crisp lines and chrome accents that enhanced its luxurious appearance. 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 air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester retained a more traditional SUV look, with a boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Forester Sport model added orange striping and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. The Forester's interior was practical, with cloth upholstery on lower trims and leather on higher trims, along with an All-Weather Package for added comfort.

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 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 and maneuverability in tight spaces.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, came with a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Forester's engine provided adequate power for most situations but lacked the thrust needed for quick highway maneuvers. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in noticeable body roll and bounce on uneven pavement. However, the Forester's standard AWD and X-Mode system enhanced its off-road capabilities.

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

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided generous headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. It offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them down. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, it did offer a power liftgate on higher trims. The Forester's interior was practical, with well-sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and redundant controls. The Aviator also included a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims added an 8-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon audio system, and navigation. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information but seemed overly complex.

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 both the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, unique among mainstream brands, and optional features like blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.