2022 Volvo XC60 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 tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, chrome accents, and a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling updates, including a new front fascia with "air blades" and a redesigned rear bumper that hid the tailpipes. The interior remained largely unchanged, retaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair to an otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 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, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's drive mode selector included "Excite" and "Conserve" modes, making it well-suited for highways but less composed in city driving.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. The B5 combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The B6 added an electric supercharger, increasing output to 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering FWD or AWD and the B6 available only with AWD. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid produced 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft. The XC60 emphasized a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, with impressive body control in corners.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expanding 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, 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 Volvo XC60 offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats folded in mild-hybrid models. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, despite the somewhat pinched roofline. Large exterior mirrors also aided in driving without relying on driver aids.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape format that made for a natural layout. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons that took up the whole screen. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics and muted colors.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The new system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distraction.

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 Volvo XC60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.