2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

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

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 shared a platform and mechanicals with the Nissan Armada, but its unique front-end styling and tasteful use of chrome set it apart. The QX80's cabin featured upscale materials like wood trim and quilted semi-aniline leather seats, but its design was starting to show its age. Despite this, the QX80's interior remained a comfortable and attractive place to be, though it fell short of the high standards set by its premium full-size SUV competitors.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. 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's drive mode selector included options like "Excite" and "Conserve," but it struggled with body roll in corners and tight maneuvering due to its long wheelbase.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The QX80's V8 delivered robust performance and a pleasing exhaust note, though it was thirsty for fuel. The QX80 offered 2WD as standard and 4WD as an option, with a computer-controlled transfer case for off-road capability. The QX80's Hydraulic Body Motion Control system helped manage body lean during cornering, and it had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially with captain's chairs, offered the most comfort, featuring a center console and digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 required a climb to enter due to its tall ride height, but once inside, it offered a spacious and airy cabin. The QX80 could seat up to eight passengers with the optional second-row bench seat, though the third row was cramped for adults. Cargo space measured 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats down. The power-operated liftgate and third-row seats were slow to operate.

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's landscape layout and redundant controls made it user-friendly. The Aviator also offered a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 had a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The QX80 also featured a Bose 13-speaker premium sound system, with a 17-speaker system on the Sensory trim. A wireless smartphone charger was new for 2022. However, the QX80 lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older architecture.

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 NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 included standard safety features like forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, backup collision intervention, a smart rearview mirror, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety items for 2022 included driver attention alert and front knee airbags. The QX80 received a four-star overall crash protection rating from NHTSA for the 2021 model, but the 2022 model had not been rated by IIHS.