2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator presented a sophisticated and luxurious appearance, with a focus on comfort and elegance. It featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. The Aviator Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring models enhanced this powertrain with a hybrid system, adding a 75-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering standard all-wheel drive. The Aviator's pricing ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The Black Label Grand Touring model, with its optional paint job, reached an MSRP of $91,225. The Aviator's design was generally appealing, though the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered too plain. The interior was luxurious, with a mix of high-end materials and a somewhat busy design, featuring patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, and rich caramel-hued leather seats.

In contrast, the 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic, boxy profile with modern features, such as angular headlights, creating a rugged yet contemporary look. The interior was more durable and adventure-ready compared to other Land Rover models, with a focus on practicality and soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, emphasizing a throwback style. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments, making it suitable for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, delivered impressive performance with its drivetrain generating 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. Despite the added weight from the electric motor and battery, the Aviator offered 21 miles of electric driving range and averaged 23 mpg in hybrid mode. Various driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, and Excite, allowed for efficient power management. During an extended evaluation drive, the Aviator achieved an equivalent of 163.4 mpg by relying heavily on electric power. The twin-turbo V6 provided ample power, though the drivetrain's responsiveness was sometimes unpredictable. The Aviator's handling was commendable, with an adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension and Pirelli tires ensuring a smooth ride. However, the Aviator was not particularly engaging to drive, focusing more on comfort and isolation.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, with the P500 producing 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 generating 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2 system, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway driving, though there was a slight lurch during acceleration and deceleration.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging 30-way Perfect Position front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious and supportive, but the third-row seating was cramped and not suitable for adults. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, offering just 18.3 cubic feet, but expanded to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a versatile interior with a blend of luxury and practicality. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row, increasing capacity to eight. Cargo capacity differed by model, with the Defender 130 providing 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 76.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row in the two-row version and 69 cubic feet with all seats down in the three-row configuration. The two-door Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, and Lincoln Connect services. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The Aviator also included a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, wireless charging, and a Phone As A Key digital key system. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were user-friendly, and parking sensors and a surround-view camera system aided in parking.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The infotainment system was straightforward, aligning with the Defender's utilitarian design. The Defender also included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The layout was user-friendly, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with Co-Pilot360 driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning. The test model also had blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and evasive steering assist. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. It also included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-keeping assist was a bit intrusive but could be deactivated. The Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.