2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Lincoln successfully carried over the sharp, chrome-accented design language from the Navigator to the Aviator, making it a visually striking vehicle. Inside, the Aviator's cabin was defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each offering progressively more luxurious features, such as upgraded leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us with its plush and roomy interior after a long flight. Despite its luxurious Platinum trim, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all our luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum featured a chrome grille, 22-inch wheels, and a leather-lined cabin. However, it also had acres of hard plastic, reminding us of its origins. The Expedition's independent rear suspension ensured comfort, but the high cargo floor liftover height was a drawback. The extended-length MAX version offered more cargo space, making it a better choice for larger families.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 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 featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth swell of power, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," making it suitable for highways and cul-de-sacs but less composed in city driving.

The 2021 Ford Expedition came with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and either RWD or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, except for the Platinum trim, which had 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds. The Expedition's acceleration was impressive, even with a full load, and the transmission performed smoothly. However, the Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin. The FX4 Off-Road Package added off-road capabilities, but our Platinum model stuck to pavement, averaging 17.1 mpg.

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 seats folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially with captain's chairs, offered the best seating experience. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for all passengers, including adults in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort, and storage for odds and ends was plentiful. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and a maximum of 104.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Expedition MAX offered even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape layout of the screen made for a natural user experience, and the system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and redundant controls. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system, while user-friendly, had an aging 8-inch touchscreen that looked small in the dashboard. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, FordPass Connect, and a navigation system. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and wireless smartphone charging but lacked the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came well-equipped with standard driver assistance features from the 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.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a safety advantage due to its weight, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. However, its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system.