2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, so Subaru decided to imbue its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The Crosstrek featured black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height that afforded 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Subaru also offered more vibrant colors on the Crosstrek, including Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model year.

Underneath, the Crosstrek rode on the same Subaru Global Platform as most of the automaker’s other models, including the Legacy/Outback, Ascent, and Forester. The interior was virtually unchanged from the Impreza hatchback, functional but somewhat plain-looking. The Sport-trim-level test car had Plasma Yellow Pearl accents that clashed with the Horizon Blue Pearl exterior, and the simulated carbon-fiber trim pieces looked cheap. However, the model did get water-repellant StarTex upholstery, which was handy for trips to the beach.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, which arrived as a 2020 model and carried over to 2021 mostly unchanged, took on Lincoln's design language in all the right places. It was an incredibly sharp-looking car, defined by crisp lines and heavy use of chrome. Inside, Lincoln differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring plenty of soft-touch materials and a center console that rose elegantly up to the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The Aviator also featured a piano button shifter in the middle of the dash, laid out in a sensible manner, and various soothing chimes that contributed to the air of class and luxury.

Trims for the Aviator included Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim came with features such as synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, remote start, and a power liftgate. The Reserve trim added 12-way power-adjustable front seats, upgraded leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Grand Touring trim upgraded to a plug-in hybrid powertrain and added adaptive headlights and the Elements Package Plus, which included a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The Black Label trim added the Convenience and Luxury packages as standard equipment, while the Grand Touring Black Label added a Dynamic Handling Package and nearly every optional feature as standard equipment.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek got a second gasoline powertrain option. Standard on the Sport and Limited trim levels, the new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine made 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trim levels continued with the previous 2.0-liter boxer-four, which produced 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid, available since the 2019 model year, was not updated for 2021. The boxer engine, with cylinders running parallel to the ground, provided a lower center of gravity that could improve handling, although the SUV-like stance negated some of that benefit.

A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trim levels, but most buyers likely upgraded to the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Sport and Limited trim levels were CVT only, so buyers had to go automatic to get the bigger engine. All trim levels got standard AWD, including torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces and hill descent control. The new-for-2021 Sport trim level also got Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Despite these features, most Crosstreks likely spent their lives on pavement, where they exhibited predictable handling, a comfortable ride, and low wind noise. The new 2.5-liter engine provided adequate acceleration but was accompanied by plenty of droning from the CVT.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator's Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. 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 the same twin-turbo V6 in a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and could travel up to 21 miles on pure electric power when fully charged.

The Aviator's drive mode selector included modes like “Excite” and “Conserve,” appropriate for its smooth yet quick power delivery. The Aviator's heft was noticeable in corners, with some body roll, and its long wheelbase made it awkward to maneuver in tight spaces. However, it was perfectly suited for highways and cul-de-sacs.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made the Crosstrek competitive against other small crossovers in passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped models also got a rear-seat reminder to prevent drivers from leaving children or pets unattended. Up front, Subaru provided a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, but the maximum number of USB ports was two, both located in this space. Other storage space was minimal, but the Crosstrek had decent-sized bottle holders in the doors. The driving position felt higher than an Impreza’s, but outward visibility was good.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. With the power-lift-and-lower third-row seats folded, cargo capacity increased to 41.8 cubic feet, and with all rear seats folded, it provided a total of 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The Aviator's second row was particularly comfortable, especially in the Grand Touring model, which featured second-row captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. One potential issue was the use of power-button door releases, which could be problematic if the battery ever died.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trim levels got a Multimedia Plus setup with WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. The Crosstrek also had a second screen above the main touchscreen for additional information. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system. The screen extended from the dash in a landscape format, making for a natural layout. The Sync 3 system was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and redundant controls in the center stack. The Aviator also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented well on the screen. The Aviator featured an easy-to-toggle fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with large, crisp graphics.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model a “Top Safety Pick” rating, which likely applied to the 2021 model as well. CVT-equipped Crosstrek models got standard adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Limited trim level and optional Premium and Sport trims included automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

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 from the IIHS.