Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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

Safety

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Both the Aviator and Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid’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 Lincoln Aviator has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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

Both the Aviator and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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.

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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	292
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	38.2%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	318	328
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/405 lbs.	545/323 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	224 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	114
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	288	366
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	664 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 is 1.3% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the Highlander Hybrid.

Warranty

The Aviator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Highlander Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Highlander Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Highlander Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The Aviator’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 157 more horsepower (400 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 251 more horsepower (494 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator turbo V6 is faster than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	85.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Aviator
	AWD	Grand Touring Electric Motor	54 city/58 hwy
Highlander Hybrid
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/35 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy

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

Both the Aviator and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Aviator (except Aviator Grand Touring) has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (18 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Aviator’s standard fuel tank has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (20.2 vs. 17.1 gallons).

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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Aviator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander Hybrid:

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

The Aviator stops shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Highlander Hybrid (255/60R19 vs. 235/65R18). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (275/40R22 vs. 235/65R18).

The Aviator’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze’s standard 65 series tires. The Aviator’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

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 Highlander Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Aviator offers optional vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (119.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander Hybrid.

The Aviator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Highlander Hybrid’s (53% to 47%). This gives the Aviator more stable handling and braking.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD (26.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander Hybrid (144.7 vs. 141.3).

The Aviator has .3 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row headroom and 1.2 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Aviator	Highlander Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	18.3 cubic feet	16 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Highlander Hybrid’s (5600 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Aviator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Aviator’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid.

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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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