2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2021 Volvo XC60

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 old alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator featured a unified design language across Lincoln's sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated look, while the low, wide beltline added a boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, indicating a deep commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The 2021 Volvo XC60, positioned between the compact XC40 and the larger XC90, was built on Volvo's SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform. The XC60 shared a common look with other Volvo crossovers, featuring an elegant, tailored two-box design with short front and rear overhangs. The body sides were tucked in athletically, with crisp details emphasizing an agile form. The upright grille proudly displayed Volvo's iron mark logo, and the front headlights featured an LED daytime running light in the shape of Thor's hammer. Inside, the XC60's cabin was defined by clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene aura. The 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen was easier to accept by 2021, and the little details, like the elegant HVAC vents, elevated the XC60 to near-luxury status. The textures and colors throughout the cabin were harmonious and rewarding, making it a very nice place to spend time.

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 trim combined this engine with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was AWD only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided hushed, confident acceleration and smoothed out the driving experience. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned in their feedback. The Excite drive mode offered a bit more dynamic driving, but the Aviator's 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17 mpg city, 24 highway, 20 combined. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 MPGe combined rating.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. T5 models produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while T6 models generated 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models, which were plug-in hybrids, added an 87-hp electric motor, bringing the total output to 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Polestar Engineered model increased the combined output to 415 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models could drive up to 19 miles on electric power alone. The XC60's AWD system and torque vectoring allowed it to glide around corners effortlessly, and the cabin was serenely quiet with a smooth suspension. Fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined for the T5 FWD to 27 mpg combined for the T8 PHEV and 57 MPGe combined in electric-only mode. Premium gasoline was recommended for all XC60 models.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows of seats, competed with vehicles like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Land Rover Discovery, and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain's chairs were fantastic, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. With the second and third rows folded, the Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. However, the Aviator's controls could be confusing, with overly complicated seat adjustments and unconventional door-release functions. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release mechanism was unnecessarily complicated, raising concerns about usability in emergencies.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was designed to provide comfort, style, and safety. The front seats were highly adjustable and heated, making them ideal for winter conditions. The heating system, rear glass heater, windshield defroster, washer, and wipers performed exceptionally well in sub-freezing temperatures. The XC60's cabin featured smart storage solutions in the center console, dashboard, and door panels. The second row had secure storage in the seatbacks, lower center console, door panels, and center armrest. The controls were intuitive and glove-friendly, reflecting Swedish winter expertise. The XC60 offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Each XC60 model could tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout. This setup provided a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons and readouts. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, which presented information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 used the Sensus infotainment system, which had a tablet-style touchpad interface. The system's portrait orientation and function quadrants made it intuitive for frequent iPad users, but there was a learning curve. Smartphone integration included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot with a three-month trial. The Volvo On Call app added vehicle-specific functionality, such as maintenance reminders and remote locking. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system in the test XC60 was exceptional.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with standard safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 benefited from Volvo's long-standing commitment to safety. It received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA for the T5/T5 AWD and T6 AWD models. Standard safety features included LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, low- and high-speed collision mitigation, vehicle/cyclist/large animal detection, driver alert control, run-off road protection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping aid, front, side, and curtain airbags, whiplash protection, slippery road/hazard light alert, rear park assist camera, power child locks, and care key. The semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system was available, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The XC60's top speed was restricted to 112 mph for safety.