2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Toyota 4Runner

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of mimicking competitors. Its sharp lines and chrome accents gave it a sophisticated appearance, reminiscent of the larger Navigator. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the vehicle's unique charm, while various trims provided a range of features from synthetic leather upholstery to massaging front seats.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota 4Runner maintained its rugged, adventure-ready design, staying true to its roots with a truck-like construction. Its boxy proportions and high ride height emphasized its off-road capabilities. Inside, the 4Runner's cabin reflected its age, with a layout reminiscent of the late 2000s. Despite this, it offered practical features like a power-sliding rear window and a straightforward infotainment system. The 4Runner's trims catered to different needs, from the road-oriented TRD Sport to the off-road-focused TRD Pro.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring trims enhanced performance with a plug-in hybrid setup, boosting output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, and providing up to 21 miles of electric-only range. The Aviator excelled in highway driving but showed some body roll in corners and was less agile in city environments.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner, on the other hand, featured a single 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, felt dated and underwhelming in most driving situations. However, the 4Runner's true strength lay in its off-road capabilities, where its suspension absorbed rough terrain with ease. The TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road models further enhanced this with features like Crawl Control and a locking differential. The 4Runner could tow up to 5,000 pounds, which was more than most car-based crossovers.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, offered a luxurious experience with captain's chairs and a digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner offered a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the two-row version, slightly more than the three-row model's 88.8 cubic feet. The three-row option reduced space behind the rear seats to just 9 cubic feet. While the 4Runner lacked a power liftgate, its power rear window was a convenient feature. Despite its age, the 4Runner's cabin was functional, though not as spacious or efficient as more modern SUVs.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 infotainment system, offering a user-friendly interface and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument panel and optional head-up display added to the tech-savvy experience, with large, clear graphics.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, surrounded by hard buttons and dials for easy use. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with Bluetooth connectivity and multiple USB ports. While not the most advanced system, it covered the basics and was easy to operate, even with gloves on.

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

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with features like forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Additional features like blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system were available. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars in NHTSA testing for frontal and side impacts, but only three stars for rollover testing.