2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban presented a bold and somewhat polarizing design, borrowing elements from the Camaro's styling. Its front-end design featured small headlights and large, busy grilles, which did not appeal to everyone. Despite the exterior's divisive appearance, the interior maintained a familiar layout with controls in their expected places, ensuring ease of use. The Suburban offered a range of trims, from the base LS to the luxurious High Country, each adding various features and enhancements. The High Country trim, while upscale, lacked the soft-touch materials typical of true luxury SUVs, making it feel more like an upscale pickup.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator embraced a distinct and elegant design, drawing inspiration from the larger Navigator. Its sharp lines and tasteful use of chrome gave it a sophisticated appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin exuded comfort and warmth, with soft-touch materials and a well-integrated 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Aviator's unique features, such as the piano button shifter and soothing chimes, added to its luxurious feel. The Aviator offered several trims, with the Grand Touring trim providing a plug-in hybrid powertrain and additional comfort features like massaging seats, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came with a choice of three engines, including a standard 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 6.2-liter V8 was available, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The newly available Duramax turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six, generated 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering either rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. The Suburban's diesel engine provided impressive torque and smooth acceleration, while its independent rear suspension improved ride quality. However, it still exhibited some truck-like handling characteristics, such as body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. This hybrid setup allowed for up to 21 miles of electric-only driving. The Aviator's powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though its size and weight resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered unique options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted an impressive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, making it a top choice for those needing ample storage. Even with the second-row seats in use, it offered 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, while 41.5 cubic feet were available behind the third row. The Suburban provided generous head- and legroom for passengers, with second-row captain's chairs offering exceptional comfort. However, the button shifter design and power-sliding center console were less intuitive features that detracted from its overall functionality.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats down, it provided 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space, suitable for a midsize luxury SUV. The Aviator's second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel enhanced passenger comfort and convenience. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality in case of a battery failure.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen with GM's intuitive infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's layout was user-friendly, with a helpful home button for easy navigation. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system, and head-up display, providing a comprehensive tech experience.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, offering a user-friendly interface and redundant controls. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were well-integrated, with large icons for easy access. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display, enhancing the driving experience with clear and crisp graphics.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance, and rear parking sensors. Optional features such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available, though some competitors offered these as standard. Unique options included a rear-view camera mirror and Safety Alert Seat, providing additional safety measures.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, offering standard features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added advanced features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.