2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the larger Navigator and the smaller MKC and Corsair in Lincoln's lineup. It marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the previous alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's range, with elegant headlights and a prominent chrome grille. Its tapered roofline and low, wide beltline gave it a sleek, boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator boasted a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and a flowing design. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with a piano-key design for the shifter buttons. The Aviator's interior was plush, with leather used generously throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a panoramic moonroof and orchestral warning jingles added to its appeal.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander, from the side, could blend in with many other vehicles. It featured a trapezoidal theme in its design, with slanted tailgate glass and exaggerated body panel creases. The Highlander had LED headlights and fog lights on all trims except the base L, with the Limited and Platinum trims boasting LED running lamps and 20-inch wheels. The interior was where the Highlander shone, with quality fit and finish. Silver-painted accents and a multi-layered dash added to its appeal. The Limited trim offered a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures. The Highlander's interior was compared favorably to competitors like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, with only the Kia Telluride matching its quality. The exterior styling, however, was considered less inviting than the interior.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring model combined this engine with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a total output of 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid was all-wheel drive only. The Aviator could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds, regardless of the powertrain. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided smooth acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were effective but cushioned. It offered an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic experience, though its 5,600-pound weight limited its agility. Fuel economy for the conventional Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for RWD, and slightly lower for AWD.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This engine, shared with the Lexus RX, delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing smooth and quiet acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot for quick acceleration. The Highlander's steering was loose, and its suspension was soft, leading to a floating sensation at speed. Despite being on a new, stiffer chassis, the Highlander lacked the control expected from Toyota. However, it offered a comfortable and isolating driving experience, ideal for long road trips. The Limited and Platinum trims included torque vectoring for AWD models and selectable driving modes. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 highway, and 24 combined, while the AWD model was slightly lower. The Highlander hybrid, reviewed separately, offered up to 36 mpg combined.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with models like the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The optional second-row captain's chairs were highly praised, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but better suited for children on longer trips. With the second and third rows folded, the Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. The Aviator's interior featured some unconventional controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments, which could be confusing. The 30-way seats included a massage function, but their controls were complex. The door-release function was also non-traditional, requiring some getting used to.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight or seven with second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous adjustments and easy access to the third row. The Highlander offered exceptional ingress and egress, with wide-opening rear doors and comfortable seat heights. It featured three-zone climate control, with upper trims offering additional amenities like a 120-volt outlet and heated second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both folded. The Highlander included eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash. Controls were simple and legible, with an easy-to-use infotainment interface.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup allowed for full-screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, providing large icons and readouts. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a large head-up display, offering a wealth of information in a minimalist format.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system felt outdated, with low-resolution maps and screens. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on Limited and standard on Platinum, couldn't fully display maps or vehicle options, as climate and fuel economy info were always present. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The Highlander featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, both crisp and informative. The semi-automated driving system was effective, with adaptive cruise control and road sign detection. The optional JBL audio system was decent, and the Highlander included standard features like SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and USB ports.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator included standard safety features such as front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a suite of driver-assistance systems that included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander had a driver's knee airbag and a cushion airbag for the front passenger. The IIHS awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick for its top ratings in crash tests and emergency braking performance.