Compare the2023 Ford ExplorerVS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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 Explorer 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.

Both the Explorer 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Explorer the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 55 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

There are over 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo V6 is faster than the Aviator Grand Touring 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

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

Both the Explorer and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Explorers 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 Explorer Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release 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.

For better stopping power the Explorer ST’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Aviator:

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Aviator doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Aviator doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Aviator AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Ford Explorer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 700 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Explorer has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (152.7 vs. 144.7).

The Explorer has .7 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom and .6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

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

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Explorer, using the AdvanceTrac® 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.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Explorer owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Explorer will cost $3195 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 Ford Explorer will be $15226 to $25850 less than for the Lincoln Aviator.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over 9 to one during 2022.