Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2022 Ford Escape PHEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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Both the Aviator and Escape PHEV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Aviator has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Escape PHEV’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Lincoln Aviator has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Aviator offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Aviator’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Aviator Reserve/Grand Touring/Black Label has a standard 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Escape PHEV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Aviator and the Escape PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Lincoln Aviator weighs 875 to 1803 pounds more than the Ford Escape PHEV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	Aviator	Escape PHEV
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	143
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	185 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	188/315 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	36.3%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Ford Escape PHEV:

	Aviator	Escape PHEV
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	197
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	161 lbs.	191 lbs.
Hip Force	224 lbs.	240 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	97
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	604 lbs.	816 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	288	344

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Aviator its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 122 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Escape PHEV is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Aviator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Escape PHEV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Escape PHEV. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Escape PHEV ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Escape PHEV’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

Engine

The Aviator’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 179 more horsepower (400 vs. 221) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 273 more horsepower (494 vs. 221) than the Escape PHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape PHEV (18 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Aviator’s standard fuel tank has 9.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Escape PHEV (20.2 vs. 11.1 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Aviator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Escape PHEV:

	Aviator	Escape PHEV
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11.9 inches

The Aviator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Escape PHEV are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Escape PHEV (255/60R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape PHEV (275/40R22 vs. 225/60R18).

The Aviator’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escape PHEV’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Escape PHEV. The Aviator offers optional 22-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Escape PHEV’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 12.4 inches longer than on the Escape PHEV (119.1 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 5.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Escape PHEV.

Chassis

The Aviator (except Standard) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Escape PHEV can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 42.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escape PHEV (144.7 vs. 102.2).

The Aviator has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 5 inches more rear hip room and 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Escape PHEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Aviator’s middle row seats recline. The Escape PHEV’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Aviator	Escape PHEV
Third Seat Folded	41.8 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	34.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	77.7 cubic feet	60.8 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Aviator. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escape PHEV’s (5600 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Escape PHEV uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Escape PHEV. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Escape PHEV, and is not available on all models.

The Aviator’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Escape PHEV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Aviator the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Escape PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Aviator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Escape PHEV’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Aviator’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Escape PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Aviator (except Standard) offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Aviator’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Escape PHEV.

The Aviator’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Escape PHEV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Aviator has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Escape PHEV. The Aviator also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Aviator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Aviator (except Standard) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Escape PHEV.

The Aviator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Escape PHEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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