Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Aviator doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Both the Q5 and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	Q5	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	26.3%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	230/210 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	318
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	129 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	380/405 lbs.

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 Audi Q5 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	Q5	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	65
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	288
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Aviator’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q5’s reliability 61 points higher than the Aviator.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 12 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator Grand Touring running on electricity (60 city/61 hwy vs. 54 city/58 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Aviator running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
Aviator
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	22 city/25 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 22 miles. The Aviator Grand Touring has to start its internal combustion engine after only 21 miles.

Both the Q5 and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Q5s 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.

Transmission

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Aviator doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Aviator doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5 55 TFSI e’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

	Q5 55 TFSI e	Aviator
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.6 inches

The Q5 stops shorter than the Aviator:

	Q5	Aviator
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Chassis

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 1050 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Q5 is 1 foot, 3 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q5 is 5.1 inches narrower than the Aviator, making the Q5 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 18.3 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

The Q5 has a standard locking fuel and charge port 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Aviator doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Q5’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Aviator doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Q5 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Aviator’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 will cost $1225 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 Audi Q5 will be $2480 to $21328 less than for the Lincoln Aviator.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Aviator isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over three to one during the 2021 model year.