Compare the2023 Cadillac XT6VS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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

Safety

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The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 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.

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 XT6 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Aviator doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT6 and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	XT6	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25%	26.3%
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	305	318
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	71 lbs.	129 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	9/6 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	XT6	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	117 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	249 lbs.	604 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 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 “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XT6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The XT6’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Aviator’s (6 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 XT6’s reliability 22 points higher than the Aviator.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Aviator isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated lower.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT6 gets better mileage than the Aviator running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
XT6
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
Aviator
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’s fuel efficiency. The Aviator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the XT6 and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All XT6s 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.

The XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 20.2 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT6 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Lincoln Aviator (5 to 7). This means the XT6 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Aviator every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT6 stops shorter than the Aviator:

	XT6	Aviator
60 to 0 MPH	134 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lincoln Aviator only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Aviator doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The XT6 Sport AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Cadillac XT6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1000 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

Passenger Space

The XT6 has .1 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more third row headroom and .3 inches more third row legroom than the Aviator.

Cargo Capacity

The XT6’s cargo area provides more volume than the Aviator.

	XT6	Aviator
Third Seat Folded	43.1 cubic feet	41.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	78.7 cubic feet	77.7 cubic feet

Towing

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the XT6, using the StabiliTrak® 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.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

When the XT6 is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Aviator’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT6 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT6 will cost $310 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.