Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2023 Infiniti QX80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Aviator and QX80 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 QX80’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 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 QX80 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Aviator’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX80 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Aviator uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The QX80 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Aviator and the QX80 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, 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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Aviator	QX80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	2 Stars
HIC	125	384
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	36%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	439 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	95 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	983/651 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	1.2 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	37%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	219 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/405 lbs.	452/534 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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Aviator	QX80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	16 inches
HIC	288	437
Hip Force	573 lbs.	684 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Aviator, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 6.8% to 9% less likely to roll over than the QX80, which received a three-star rating.

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 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The QX80 has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 3 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Infiniti 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 QX80’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 QX80 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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti 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 Infiniti 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, Infiniti is rated below average.

Engine

The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 94 more horsepower (494 vs. 400) and 217 lbs.-ft. more torque (630 vs. 413) than the QX80’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator turbo V6 is faster than the Infiniti QX80:

	Aviator	QX80
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	93.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Aviator running on electricity gets better mileage than the QX80:

			MPGe
Aviator
	AWD	Grand Touring Electric Motor	54 city/58 hwy
QX80
			MPG
	RWD	5.6 DOHC V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.6 DOHC V8	13 city/19 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Aviator running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the QX80:

			MPG
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
QX80
	RWD	5.6 DOHC V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.6 DOHC V8	13 city/19 hwy

The Aviator Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 21 miles. The QX80 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Aviator Grand Touring’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Aviator’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available Grand Touring). The QX80 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Aviator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the QX80.

Brakes and Stopping

The Aviator stops much shorter than the QX80:

	Aviator	QX80
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	155 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 QX80 Premium Select/Sensory’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 QX80’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the QX80 AWD pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the QX80 AWD (26.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Aviator’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the QX80’s (39.2 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Lincoln Aviator may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 950 pounds less than the Infiniti QX80.

The Aviator is 10.9 inches shorter than the QX80, making the Aviator easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Aviator’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The QX80 uses body-on-frame design instead.

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 QX80 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 QX80 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more third row headroom and .4 inches more third row legroom than the QX80.

Cargo Capacity

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the QX80.

	Aviator	QX80
Behind Third Seat	18.3 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet

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 QX80 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

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 QX80 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Aviator’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The QX80’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Aviator and the QX80 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 QX80 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Emergency Call with Automatic Collision Notification can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The QX80 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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 QX80.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Aviator will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Aviator will retain 46.08% to 51.74% of its original price after five years, while the QX80 only retains 44.39% to 44.89%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lincoln Aviator will be $6517 to $24676 less than for the Infiniti QX80.

Recommendations

The Lincoln Aviator outsold the Infiniti QX80 by almost three to one during the 2022 model year.

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