Compare the2023 Lexus GXVS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The GX’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.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lincoln Aviator doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

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 GX 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.

The GX has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Aviator doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the GX 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The GX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Aviator’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 GX’s reliability 83 points higher than the Aviator.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GX second among 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 Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 10 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 10th.

The GX has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GX has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 20.2 gallons).

The GX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Aviator. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The GX stops shorter than the Aviator:

For better traction, the GX has larger tires than the Aviator (265/60R18 vs. 255/60R19).

The Lexus GX’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 GX has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Aviator; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The GX has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Aviator doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX is 7.2 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GX is 5.4 inches narrower than the Aviator, making the GX easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The GX has .7 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more third row legroom, 2.2 inches more third row hip room and .5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GX’s middle seats and third row seats (except Base/Black Line Edition) recline. The Aviator’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Aviator’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Aviator’s (6500 vs. 5600 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the GX, using the Vehicle Stability Control 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Consumer Reports rated the GX’s headlight performance “Very Good,” 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 GX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Aviator doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the GX 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.

Insurance will cost less for the GX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GX will cost $2315 to $8030 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

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

The Lexus GX outsold the Lincoln Aviator by 36% during 2022.