2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of emulating competitors' styles. Its sharp lines and chrome accents gave it a sophisticated appearance, reminiscent of the larger Navigator model. Inside, the Aviator offered a warm and comfortable cabin, with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that elegantly dominated the dashboard. The unique piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel, setting it apart from its Ford counterpart. The Aviator's trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each offering a variety of features, from synthetic leather upholstery and tri-zone climate control to massaging front seats and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX maintained its modern and sporty design, with aggressive styling and sharp character lines. The F Sport trim, in particular, emphasized performance with 20-inch wheels and unique front fascia. Inside, the RX offered a luxurious cabin with a variety of color combinations and materials, though the F Sport trim added a sporty touch with model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. Despite its high-quality feel, the center stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim were less comfortable than expected. The RX also offered a limited-edition Black Line trim with exclusive exterior and interior features.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine across 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 options for rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with an electric-only range of 21 miles. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered unique options like "Excite" and "Conserve," though it was more suited for highway driving than city maneuverability.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX 450h hybrid model added electric motors for a combined 308 hp. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked true sporty performance, with a subdued engine note and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport Handling package included adaptive suspension and sport steering, but changes in drive modes were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and quietness, with a compliant ride and isolated road noise. Fuel efficiency varied, with the RX 350 achieving 23 mpg combined and the RX 450h hybrid reaching 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 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 in the Grand Touring trim, provided ample space and features like captain's chairs and a digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Lexus RX provided 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models had limited cargo space, with only 7.45 cubic feet behind the third row. Cargo capacity increased to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down, though the seats didn't fold completely flat. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot and adjustable-height cup holder, but the high load-in height could be inconvenient.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, offering a user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument panel and optional head-up display provided clear and easy-to-read information.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the screen's positioning was ergonomically challenging. The touchpad control was frustratingly hypersensitive, though the system was responsive when the correct menu was selected. The RX included a range of tech features, such as six USB ports, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot, but the touchpad detracted from the overall experience.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a pre-collision system. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional headlights but received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.