2021 Lincoln Aviator

Ford has made sure that every buyer gets a feel of the premium appeal of this Lincoln and hence offers an extensive list of features right from the base Standard trim. The Reserve trim adds a lot more convenience features to it while the Black Label trims, although cost just too much, provides the perfect premium experience in the most American way possible. It is also only available with the AWD drivetrain as standard.

Which trim should you buy?

Although the best and the most premium features are available only with top Black Label trim, it is not worth the super high price tag. In fact, it is best preferred to opt for the base Standard trim with an AWD drivetrain and spec the Aviator with the optional features as per your needs and choices. 

The large, brawny, and premium SUVs which are focused more on being the ultimate luxury cruiser do not usually do that well in terms of frugality but the 2021 Aviator does not disappoint much in this regard. The 21 mpg of combined city and highway driving fuel efficiency which is reduced by about 1 mpg by opting for the AWD, is on par with the industry standards. The large 20.2-gallon fuel tank aids in offering over 400 miles of range on a single tank of gas.

The Lincoln Aviator, Cadillac XT6, and the Audi Q7, all have identical overall fuel economy figures but the Audi Q7 returns a bit lower highway efficiency as compared to the other two. That being said, the much larger gas tank on offer translates to a longer driving range. The Volvo’s unique supercharged and turbocharged engine delivers a marginally better highway and overall fuel economy but employs a smaller gas tank which compromises the driving range. 

The cabin of the Lincoln Aviator looks very premium and the designers have seemed to opt for the modern and minimalistic appeal which most of us would definitely grow a liking to. It although feels very European but isn’t quite up to the Audi, BMW, and Mercedes standard. Everything is within the reach of the driver and the lighter upholstery color lightens up the cabin making it feel roomy and airy. 

The Lincoln feels more spacious than many of its rivals and offers plenty of space for all its occupants in all its three rows of seats. All the rows get abundant headroom and legroom on offer while sliding the middle row just a bit forward could ensure smooth sailing for third-row occupants as well. There are also many pockets and cubby holes around the cabin to comfortably haul a large family on a road trip. 

There is no doubt that the 2021 Lincoln Aviator has the most spacious cabin and cargo space in this comparison. The 18.3 cu-ft of luggage space can be extended to 77 cu-ft, which is also one of the best in this comparison. The Cadillac feels spacious for the passengers in all its rows but compromises on the luggage capacity. The Volvo on the other hand has the most amount of legroom in the third row but compromises space on the other two rows for that. 

• 22-Way Power Adjustable Savannah Leather Heated/Ventilated Seats Front Seats
• Bucket Folding Heated & Ventilated, Manual Reclining, Tumble Forward, Savannah Leather Rear Seat w/Manual Fore/Aft
• Fixed 50-50 Split-Bench Lincoln Soft Touch Leatherette 3rd Row Seat w/Power Fold Into Floor
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column w/Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Voice Activated Dual Zone Front And Rear Automatic Air Conditioning w/Separate Rear Seat Controls
• Memory Settings for Door Mirrors, Steering Wheel, Head Restraints, Audio and HVAC
• Head-Up Display

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Aviator employs a 10.1-inch touchscreen at the center of the dashboard with SYNC technology, similar to its Ford counterpart. The system interface is very intuitive and has now been used at least once by most Americans at some point in their life with its widespread use across all brands and models. There are plenty of functions and technologies on offer, but most of the premium ones are available only on the Black Label trim which needs shelling out of huge sums of money. 

• 10.1-inch SYNC 3 Communication & Entertainment Infotainment System
• 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System w/QuantumLogic Surround technology
• SYNC AppLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility
• Voice-activated Navigation System
• SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link w/a 6-year prepaid subscription
• HD Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/3-month prepaid subscription
• Rear Seat Audio Controls
• Lincoln Connect Mobile Hotspot Internet Access

There is no doubt that Lincoln designs seem to have improved over the years and the current generation 2021 Aviator is one of their nicest designs. The headlights although seem very generic and the grille design might look a bit awkward to some, overall the front fascia looks very premium. At the sides, the almost straight window line with chrome embellishments and large yet stylish wheels attract a lot of attention. 

The rear end is just beautiful to look at. The slim LED light bar that runs across the width of the car feels modern while the chrome rear bumper applique and quad exhaust tips add drama and aggression to the rear end. The Aviator misses out on LED fog lights as all other lights have LED lights as standard, but the wheels which range from 19-inch to 22-inch all look great. 

There is not much difference in terms of length for most of these cars, except for the XC90 which is a few inches shorter. The 2021 Aviator is the widest and also has the longest wheelbase to offer which aids in opening up more space inside its cabin. The XT6 is the lightest of them all but also rides lower to the ground while the Q7 has a slightly higher stance. The Volvo XC90 on the other hand has the best ground clearance on offer. 

• Automatic Projector Beam LED Auto-Leveling Directionally Adaptive Auto High-Beam Daytime Running Lights Preference Setting Headlamps
• LED Brakelights
• Power Liftgate and Lip Spoiler
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets And Wiper Park
• Chrome Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Driver Auto Dimming, Power Folding, and Turn Signal Indicator
• Dark Chrome Grille, Chrome Side Windows Trim, and Bodyside Insert
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass Panoramic Vista Roof Sunroof w/Power Sunshade
• 21-inch Bright-Machined Aluminum Wheels

Safety has hardly ever been a concern for a Ford car and the 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick” accolade from the IIHS for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator is a prime example of it. Being a premium offering, Lincoln offers plenty of safety features and technologies to offer a hassle-free driving experience. Many of the available features are standard across the lineup and a highlight of the most prominent ones is listed below. 

• AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
• Active Park Assist Plus Automated Parking Sensors
• 360-Degree Camera w/Front & Rear Camera Washer
• Mykey System
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning

2021 Lincoln Aviator vs Audi Q7

Going up against the German Giants would never be easy, but the 2021 Aviator does manage to perform really well against the Audi Q7. The Lincoln offers superior acceleration and towing performance while the fuel economy is also on par with the Q7. The cabin is more spacious and is loaded with all the latest gizmos that one might need. That being said, most of these features are available only on the top-end trim which takes the affordability factor out of consideration. There is no comparison to the German build and materials quality and the technology offered in the Q7 is far superior to the Aviator, and hence should be the preferred choice.

2021 Lincoln Aviator vs Cadillac XT6

With both the brands running for supremacy as the ultimate American luxury carmaker, both these SUVs are great offerings from their respective manufacturers. Both offer great performance and efficiency and also boast a premium cabin. That being said, at a more affordable price tag, the Lincoln Aviator has superior acceleration and towing capabilities is far more spacious for both passengers and their luggage, and also offers a great amount of safety and technology which is easier to use. Therefore, the 2021 Aviator is the clear winner in this comparison against the Cadillac XT6. 

2021 Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90

While the Volvo XC90 employs dual compression technology which aids it in providing a better fuel economy, the twin-turbo setup under the hood of the Aviator offers stronger acceleration and superior towing prowess. The Lincoln also offers a more spacious cabin with more space for luggage but the Volvo offers a more sophisticated and premium quality cabin which is what demands the higher price tag. Since the build and materials quality of the Aviator isn’t bad in any which way, we would prefer it over the Volvo.

The Lincoln Aviator has become a very compelling offering in the three-row luxury SUV segment and showcases to the world the American levels of luxury very proudly. While the cabin materials quality could have been a bit better to match up with the Germans along with more sophisticated technology, the overall feel and experience are pretty luxe. If you are on the lookout for a premium luxury SUV and do not want to have the hassles of owning an expensive German car, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator could just be the right choice for you.