Lincoln Aviator vs Cadillac XT4

Cadillac employed a “Y” trim level strategy for the 2020 XT4, starting with the standard Luxury trim and offering upgrades to Premium Luxury or Sport trim. The test vehicle featured Premium Luxury trim, front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a navigation system, a Bose premium audio system, and several option packages, totaling $45,660. The XT4's exterior was visually appealing, especially with the 20-inch alloy wheels, and had a crisp, tailored styling. The interior was pleasant with competitive quality materials, though some elements like the plain black trim around the power window controls were less impressive.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator carried over the sharp styling from the 2020 model, characterized by crisp lines and chrome accents. Inside, Lincoln differentiated the Aviator from its Ford counterpart with a comfortable and warm cabin featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxury feel. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, with each level adding more features like upgraded leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system. The Grand Touring trim, tested, included a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and massaging front seats.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The engine's torque band provided a lively driving character, but the front-wheel-drive system struggled with slip and torque steer. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered smooth shifts but hesitated to downshift in Tour mode. The XT4's interior needed better isolation from engine and road noise, and the suspension struggled with both speed humps and smaller bumps. Despite these issues, the XT4's oversized wheels provided impressive grip, and the brakes performed well on smooth pavement.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. 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. The hybrid powertrain offered brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector included options like "Excite" and "Conserve," suitable for the Aviator's highway and cul-de-sac performance. The long wheelbase made tight maneuvering challenging.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4's interior featured soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats. The rear passenger compartment was roomy, though the seat cushion lacked support. The air conditioning system performed exceptionally well, even during a Southern California heatwave. The XT4 offered ample storage space, including umbrella holders and an angled wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited to 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the seat folded. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

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 down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. The power-button door releases were a potential functional issue, raising concerns about battery failure.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured the latest version of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which was easier to use than previous versions. The test vehicle included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth pairing. The 8-inch touchscreen was a bit small for a luxury vehicle, and the climate system was not integrated into the voice-recognition system. The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, though the test car lacked a head-up display and a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was intuitive and had a sensible menu layout. The Aviator also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons on the screen. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display featured crisp graphics and multiple muted colors. The Aviator's technology package was comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 added several standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. The Driver Awareness Package included lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. Adaptive cruise control was available with the Driver Assist Package. The XT4 received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS for moderate-overlap frontal-impact and side-impact protection.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. 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.