2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

Volvo, though originally a Swedish brand, had undergone significant changes in ownership over the years. After being acquired by Ford in 1999 and later sold to Geely Holding Group in 2010, Volvo experienced a renaissance. Freed from Ford's constraints, Volvo emerged with a fresh lineup of near-luxury cars and crossover SUVs, known for their safety and innovation. The 2021 XC60, positioned between the compact XC40 and the larger XC90, was built on Volvo’s SPA platform, shared with other 60-series and 90-series vehicles. The XC60 featured a sleek, athletic design with short overhangs, an upright grille with Volvo’s iron mark logo, and distinctive Thor’s hammer LED headlights. The interior boasted a Scandinavian aesthetic with clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene atmosphere, highlighted by a 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen and elegant HVAC vents.

The Lincoln Aviator, introduced as a 2020 model and continuing into 2021 with minimal changes, adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator. The Aviator's exterior was marked by crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents, making it a standout in its class. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford Explorer counterpart with a luxurious and comfortable cabin. Soft-touch materials, a rising center console, and a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen dominated the dash. The Aviator also featured a unique piano button shifter and soothing chimes for alerts, enhancing its air of class and luxury. The trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each adding progressively more features and luxury touches.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 models, available in FWD or AWD, produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models, with AWD, delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque thanks to both a turbocharger and a supercharger. The T8 models, plug-in hybrids, combined an 87-hp electric motor with the gasoline engine for a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, while the T8 Polestar Engineered variant pushed these figures to 415 hp and 472 lb-ft. The XC60 T8 PHEV could drive up to 19 miles on electric power alone and offered a smooth, quiet ride with excellent handling and torque vectoring. Fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the T5 FWD to 27 mpg combined for the T8 PHEV, with the T8 achieving 57 MPGe in electric-only mode.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard 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 and available in RWD or AWD. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid version of the same engine, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with an electric-only range of up to 21 miles. The Aviator offered brisk acceleration and a smooth power delivery, though its size and weight resulted in noticeable body roll in corners and some awkwardness in tight spaces. The drive mode selector included unique modes like “Excite” and “Conserve,” enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was designed for comfort, safety, and style. The front seats were highly adjustable and heated, making them ideal for cold climates. The heating system, including the rear glass heater and windshield defroster, performed exceptionally well in winter conditions. The cabin featured smart storage solutions and intuitive controls, with 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The XC60 could tow up to 3,500 pounds.

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 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim with captain's chairs and a center console, provided ample space and comfort. The Aviator featured power-button door releases, which could be a concern if the battery died, but overall, it offered a luxurious and functional interior.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 featured the Sensus infotainment system, a tablet-style touchpad interface that divided the screen into function quadrants. It supported swipe, pinch, and pull gestures, similar to an iPad, and included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system in the test model was exceptional.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was user-friendly and featured large icons for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with clear, easy-to-read graphics.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA for the T5/T5 AWD and T6 AWD models. It came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, and more. The semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system was available, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator also earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade. The standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking, and adaptive cruise control.