Compare the2022 Ford ExplorerVS 2022 Lincoln Aviator

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Explorer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Aviator doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Explorer and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Explorer its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

There are over 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 4 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

As tested in Motor Trend the Explorer ST/Platinum/King Ranch/Timberline 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Aviator Grand Touring 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Aviator running its gasoline engine:

Both the Explorer and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Explorers have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Aviator Grand Touring doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

For better stopping power the Explorer ST’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Aviator:

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Aviator doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Aviator doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Aviator AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

The Ford Explorer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 700 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Explorer has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (152.7 vs. 144.7).

The Explorer has .7 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom and .6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Aviator.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Explorer, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Aviator.

The Explorer Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Aviator doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

Consumer Reports rated the Explorer’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Explorer owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Explorer will cost $3295 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $20041 to $26339 less than for the Lincoln Aviator.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost 10 to one during the 2021 model year.