Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander 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
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Aviator have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the Aviator and Outlander 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 Outlander 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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Aviator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Aviator (except Standard) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Aviator’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Aviator has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

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

The Lincoln Aviator weighs 501 to 1429 pounds more than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Aviator is safer than the Outlander PHEV:

	Aviator	Outlander PHEV
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	10 mm	48 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	-6 mm	2 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	47
Max Neck Tension	461	488

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Aviator the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 155 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Outlander PHEV is not a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The Aviator’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Outlander PHEV’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Mitsubishi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

Reliability

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

The Aviator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Mitsubishi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mitsubishi is rated below average.

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 Mitsubishi 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, Mitsubishi is rated lower.

Engine

The Aviator’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 179 more horsepower (400 vs. 221) than the Outlander PHEV’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 273 more horsepower (494 vs. 221) than the Outlander PHEV’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator turbo V6 is faster than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV:

	Aviator	Outlander PHEV
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	83.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 6.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander PHEV (18 vs. 11.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Aviator’s standard fuel tank has 8.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outlander PHEV (20.2 vs. 11.3 gallons).

The Aviator has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Aviator	Outlander PHEV
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	11.6 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 Outlander PHEV are solid, not vented.

The Aviator stops shorter than the Outlander PHEV:

	Aviator	Outlander PHEV
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Outlander PHEV (255/60R19 vs. 225/55R18). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outlander PHEV (275/40R22 vs. 225/55R18).

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 Outlander PHEV’s 55 series tires.

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

The Aviator has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Outlander PHEV; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Outlander PHEV’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 Outlander 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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Aviator offers optional vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 14 inches longer than on the Outlander PHEV (119.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 6.3 inches wider in the front and 6.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Outlander PHEV.

The Aviator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Outlander PHEV’s (54% to 46%). This gives the Aviator more stable handling and braking.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Outlander PHEV GT pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Outlander PHEV GT (26.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Outlander PHEV (8.7 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Aviator uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

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

The Aviator has 42.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outlander PHEV (144.7 vs. 102.1).

The Aviator has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, 5.9 inches more front hip room, 5.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 6.4 inches more rear hip room and 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outlander PHEV.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Aviator	Outlander PHEV
Third Seat Folded	41.8 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	77.7 cubic feet	66.6 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outlander 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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Aviator Reserve/Grand Touring/Black Label’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

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

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Aviator uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outlander 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 Outlander PHEV. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Aviator, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a memory system.

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. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Aviator (except Standard) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, certain gauge, warning, turn signal and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Aviator and the Outlander PHEV have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Aviator is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outlander PHEV prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Outlander PHEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Aviator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Aviator has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Outlander PHEV only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Outlander PHEV’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

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 Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Aviator has standard extendable sun visors. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

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 Outlander PHEV has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Aviator and the Outlander PHEV have standard heated front seats. 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 Outlander 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 Outlander 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 Outlander PHEV.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Aviator. The Aviator’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a navigation system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Aviator Reserve/Grand Touring/Black Label has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Aviator (except Standard)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Aviator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Outlander PHEV doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.