2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

Lincoln made a smart move by not emulating its rivals' styles when designing the Aviator. The 2021 model carried over the sharp, crisp lines and heavy chrome use from the Navigator, making it a standout in the luxury SUV market. 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.

The Aviator offered various trims, each adding more luxury and convenience features. The Standard trim included synthetic leather upholstery and tri-zone climate control, while the Reserve trim added upgraded leather and a panoramic sunroof. The Grand Touring trim, which we tested, featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and massaging front seats. The Black Label trims added even more luxury with features like a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system and a Dynamic Handling Package.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, a mature crossover SUV, continued to build on its legacy since its 1996 debut. The latest iteration, part of a 2019 redesign, often topped the SUV sales charts in the U.S. While its exterior styling didn't stand out at first glance, closer examination revealed angular flourishes and expressive headlights that gave it a playful yet aggressive look. The traditional Toyota fit-and-finish elevated the overall quality.

Inside, the RAV4 featured a layered dash with contrasting textures and colors, anchored by an uncomplicated center stack. The touchscreen interface was positioned for minimal distraction, and the interior design included unique geometric patterns. Our Adventure-trim test vehicle even had 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels. The RAV4's interior was both functional and stylish, making it a strong contender in the crossover market.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available 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's hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though its heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The long wheelbase made it somewhat awkward to maneuver in tight spaces. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," reflecting the Aviator's focus on comfort rather than performance. It excelled on highways and in cul-de-sacs but struggled in city driving.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrains. The gasoline-only model, tested for this review, had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for FWD models was 27-28 mpg city/35 mpg highway/30 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 25-27 mpg city/32-34 mpg highway/28-30 mpg combined.

The RAV4 Hybrid used a 2.5-liter engine and an electric motor to produce 217 combined net hp, with an EPA rating of 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway/40 mpg combined. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid, with 302 hp and a 42-mile electric-only range, had an EPA rating of 40 mpg city/36 mpg highway/38 mpg combined. Our gasoline Adventure AWD model delivered smooth power and good punch on the highway, with car-like handling and a true four-wheel independent suspension. AWD models featured Multi-Terrain Select tuning and dynamic torque vectoring for improved handling.

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. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, offered captain's chairs, a center console, and 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 RAV4, classified as a small SUV, offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the second row folded. It had a healthy payload of 1,050-1,230 pounds, depending on configuration. Towing capacity varied by trim, with Adventure and TRD Off-Road models rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. Inside, the RAV4 was roomy and comfortable for four, with plenty of storage options and cupholders throughout the cabin. The middle seat in the second row was less comfortable but still usable.

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. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy use. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, six-speaker audio, and compatibility with Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, with an 11-speaker JBL audio system available on Limited models and the RAV4 Prime XSE. The RAV4 Prime also featured five USB ports, two auxiliary power outlets, and an available 120-volt/1,500-watt AC power outlet. A Qi-compatible wireless charging pad and a bird’s-eye view camera system were also available.

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 RAV4 included Toyota’s Star Safety System, with features like enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, and smart stop technology. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard, offering a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.