Lincoln Aviator vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator was essentially a luxurious version of the Ford Explorer, offering a premium feel thanks to its RWD unibody platform. Its exterior design was elegant, featuring a long dash-to-axle ratio, a slightly raked profile, and large 20 to 22-inch wheels. The reverse-horseshoe grille, adorned with chrome jewelry in the shape of the Lincoln logo, was flanked by LED headlights. The sides showcased an “Aviator” badge, while the rear boasted a full-width LED taillight and “Lincoln” lettering. Inside, the Aviator's interior was its main attraction, with the base Premiere trim offering synthetic leather upholstery and the Reserve trim providing leather options in various colours.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV returned with a familiar look, maintaining its position between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The front end resembled a conventional gas-powered car, with a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo. The Bolt EV prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding gloss black exterior trim. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, with the base LT trim offering cloth upholstery and the RS trim upgrading to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator focused on passenger comfort, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 383 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. It featured a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive in Canada. The Aviator could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under six seconds, with a smooth ride provided by its suspension system. An optional Air Glide suspension offered additional control, and the Aviator could tow up to 2,268 kilograms.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and a motor from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. It offered a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's ride was firm but not overly stiff, with road noise more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine. It was agile on curvy roads, thanks to its low centre of gravity. The Bolt offered up to 422 kilometres of range on a full charge, with a charging speed of 150 kW.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator offered a spacious interior with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Reserve trim added quad-zone climate control and Perfect Position 30-way power-adjustable front seats with massagers. The Aviator could seat up to seven, with second-row captain’s chairs providing comfort. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,149 litres available with the second row folded down.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt provided 459 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and there was ample storage for personal items up front.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Lincoln Digital Experience included apps like Google Assistant and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot. The Reserve trim added ambient lighting and a Revel 14-speaker audio system, with a high-end 28-speaker system available.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen. The infotainment system ran on a Google-based operating system, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system and a wireless charging pad. The Bolt's navigation system helped find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates.

The 2026 Lincoln Aviator included standard safety features as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 system, such as forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS but lacked a rating for its headlights.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available, but it was expected to achieve high scores. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise was available for an additional cost.