2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator was positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC, later replaced by the 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, elongated appearance, reminiscent of a luxury yacht. Inside, the Aviator boasted a flowing cabin design with soft-touch materials and elegant seats, hinting at Golden Age luxury without overdoing it. The plush leather extended throughout the interior, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a panoramic moonroof and orchestral warning jingles added to its holistic luxury approach. The Aviator offered five trims, with the Standard trim providing ample features for its base price, while the Grand Touring and Black Label trims added more luxury and performance options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, on the other hand, was a striking SUV with a design that evoked the Lamborghini Urus. Its aggressive styling included a wedgy profile, slim windows, and a bold front end with a tall, black grille. The Blazer's design was inspired by the Camaro, featuring a muscled body and a low roof. It offered various customization options, including different grille designs and packages like the Redline and Midnight/Sport editions. However, the interior was less impressive, with a dark and unsatisfying cabin, featureless seats, and downmarket materials. Despite its stylish exterior, the Blazer's interior felt dated and cheap compared to competitors. The Blazer's focus was on exterior aesthetics, but it fell short in terms of interior quality and comfort.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a robust twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trim elevated performance by combining the V6 with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a total output of 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the plug-in hybrid was exclusively all-wheel drive. The Aviator's acceleration was impressive, achieving 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The hybrid setup provided smooth and confident acceleration, enhancing the driving experience. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were effective, offering a refined driving dynamic. Fuel economy for the conventional V6 was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the PHEV achieved a combined 23 mpg with a 21-mile electric-only range.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, all paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.5-liter inline-four engine, found in the L and 1LT trims, was underpowered with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, delivered 227 hp and 258 lb-ft. The preferred engine was the 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim, producing 308 hp and 270 lb-ft. The RS trim featured a sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering, providing a dynamic driving experience. However, the transmission calibration had issues, with slow responses and a convoluted manual mode. The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 achieving 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined. The AWD turbo inline-four offered better efficiency at 22/27/24 mpg.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three-row seating, competed with models like the Audi Q7 and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain's chairs were praised for their comfort, while the power-closing third row was suitable for children on longer trips. The Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, comparable to the XT6. However, the Aviator's interior controls were somewhat confusing, with complex seat controls and unconventional door handles. The door-release function, in particular, was unnecessarily complicated, raising concerns about usability in emergency situations.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. Its low roof height was offset by seats mounted lower into the floor, making entry and exit easy. However, sightlines were poor due to the design, though large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror cameras improved visibility. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded, similar to the Equinox. It could tow up to 4,500 pounds with the trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine. The Blazer featured simple and handy controls, like movable rings around air vents for temperature adjustment and a hands-free power tailgate. Upper trims offered additional features like a power tilt/telescope steering wheel and rear heated seats.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout, providing a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and head-up display offered a wealth of information in a minimalist manner. The Aviator's tech setup was intuitive and enhanced the driving experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, known for its simplicity and speed. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added features like wireless phone charging, LED headlights, and adaptive cruise control. The infotainment system included a "Plus" version with navigation, 4G WiFi, and onboard apps. Unique GM features included cloud account settings transfer and contactless payments via the Marketplace app. Driver assists were standard on most trims, but the Blazer lacked semi-automated functions for traffic.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite offered 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 2021 Chevrolet Blazer received an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA, with top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crash tests. However, it received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking. The Blazer lacked rear emergency braking and GM's inboard side airbag.