2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. Lincoln successfully carried over the sharp design language from the Navigator, resulting in a vehicle defined by crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin that exuded comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey maintained the classic minivan design ethos but added a touch of style with kinked sliding doors and dramatic character lines. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels, adding a spiffy touch. Inside, the Odyssey offered a classic open-concept design with a low console and plenty of storage space. The view out through the massive windshield was expansive, enhancing the minivan experience. The Odyssey's interior was practical and family-friendly, with quality materials and thoughtful features like tri-color floor mats and an onboard vacuum cleaner.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with 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 routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available 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 a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator offered robust acceleration and a smooth-yet-quick power delivery, though it exhibited noticeable body roll in corners and was somewhat awkward to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD). Unlike its competitors, the Odyssey did not offer an all-wheel-drive or electrified powertrain. It had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, its brakes tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during repeated use, especially when descending hills.

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 seats folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls made the second row the place to be. However, the use of power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery ever died.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Magic Slide second-row seats provided flexibility for child safety and ease of access to the third row. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expandable to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape format of the screen made for a natural layout, and the system was easy to use with a sensible menu layout. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) added to the tech-savvy experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology were available on Touring and Elite trims, along with a rear-seat entertainment system. However, the 8-inch touchscreen felt small, and the embedded navigation system was less user-friendly compared to smartphone-based systems.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard driver assistance features as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including 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 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.