2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Lincoln successfully carried over the sharp, chrome-accented design language from the Navigator to the Aviator, resulting in a striking appearance. The Aviator's exterior was defined by crisp lines and a generous use of chrome, which actually enhanced its modern look. Inside, the Aviator's cabin was a testament to comfort and warmth, with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured a new grille, LED headlights, and subtle rear fascia changes for a sleeker look. The Equinox maintained a car-based crossover appearance, avoiding the rugged styling of some competitors. Its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia gave it a less car-like look compared to the Ford Escape. Inside, the dashboard design was creative, with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center. The materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range, and higher trims offered perforated leather upholstery.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered 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 provided robust acceleration and a smooth power delivery, though it exhibited noticeable body roll in corners and was somewhat awkward to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Equinox's torque was beneficial in stop-and-go driving, but the engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher speeds. The automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling and lacked the solidity and refinement of some competitors, though it was comfortable on poorly maintained roads.

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

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, front seat legroom was slightly lacking, and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made it difficult to find a comfortable driving position. The Equinox's tall seating position provided an unobstructed forward view, though rear visibility was somewhat hampered by the small rear window. It offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was near the bottom of the segment.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape layout that made for a natural user experience. It came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. The MyLink infotainment system was user-friendly, with large, smartphone-like menu icons. However, the center-console slot for phones was too small.

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 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system.