2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a piano button shifter. The soothing chimes and massaging front seats in the Grand Touring trim added to the overall sense of comfort and class.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Bronco embraced a retro styling that appealed to off-road enthusiasts. Its design was unapologetically utilitarian, with features like large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, and a full-size spare mounted to the tailgate. Inside, the Bronco continued this theme with marine-grade vinyl upholstery, sealed switches, and drain plugs for easy cleaning. Despite its rugged appearance, the Bronco offered modern technology, including a digital instrument panel and a large infotainment touchscreen.

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. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). 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, with an electric-only range of 21 miles. The Aviator excelled in highway driving but struggled with body roll in corners and tight city maneuvers.

The 2022 Ford Bronco came with a base turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine increased output to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine offered a seven-speed manual transmission with a unique crawl gear, while a 10-speed automatic was available for both engines. All Broncos featured four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. The Bronco excelled in off-road conditions, particularly the Everglades model, which handled deep water crossings and steep rock climbs with ease. On pavement, the Bronco offered a smoother ride and better steering than its direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler.

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 third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel in the Grand Touring trim added to passenger comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's boxy design contributed to its spacious interior. The two-door model offered 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door model increased these figures to 35.6 and 77.6 cubic feet, respectively. Clever storage solutions included netted door pockets, a rubberized phone tray, and optional stowable doors. The Bronco also featured external hard mounting points for additional utility.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was user-friendly and featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) added to the tech-savvy interior.

The 2022 Ford Bronco utilized technology to enhance its off-road capabilities. The G.O.A.T. modes and forward-looking trail camera provided confidence for novice drivers, while seasoned off-roaders could manually select their preferred settings. The Sync 4 infotainment system offered quick responses, sharp graphics, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. 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 2022 Ford Bronco offered standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional packages added features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Bronco received mixed ratings from the NHTSA, with four-out-of-five stars for frontal crash protection and three-out-of-five stars for rollover protection. The IIHS awarded it top scores in most categories.