2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

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 chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a piano button shifter. The soothing chimes for alerts added to the air of class and luxury.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander provided a practical and spacious interior, especially with the second-row captain’s chairs.

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. 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. The hybrid powertrain offered brisk acceleration and a smooth power delivery, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector included options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Highlander offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) with various drive modes, including Sport, Normal, and Eco. The V6 engine provided better pickup at higher speeds, making it ideal for highway driving. The Highlander’s handling was commendable, with the XSE trim’s sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds, a respectable figure for its class.

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 a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially with captain's chairs, provided ample space and comfort, featuring a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The Highlander featured quick-release latches and pull-straps for easy seat adjustments. The base L trim included an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and deep cargo pockets. The XSE trim’s second-row captain’s chairs offered a center aisle to the third row, which was more suitable for children than adults.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The landscape format of the screen provided a natural layout, and the system was easy to use with redundant controls in the center stack. The Aviator also included a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a standard WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy navigation. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and additional USB ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available options.

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 2022 Toyota Highlander featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes overly so.