Compare the2023 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 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 Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk/Overland/Summit 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 Grand Cherokee 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, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Grand Cherokee its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Cherokee for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Lincoln only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Aviator.

There are over 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

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 Grand Cherokee’s reliability 19 points higher than the Aviator.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee 4xe running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator Grand Touring running on electricity (57 city/56 hwy vs. 54 city/58 hwy MPGe).

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

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 26 miles. The Aviator Grand Touring has to start its internal combustion engine after only 21 miles.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grand Cherokee V8’s fuel efficiency. The Aviator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe Hybrid’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 Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 20.2 gallons).

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

The Grand Cherokee 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.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional 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 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 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.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (38 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (10.9 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 500 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Grand Cherokee is 5.8 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Grand Cherokee easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 18.3 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Aviator is limited to 5600 pounds. The Grand Cherokee 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Aviator can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Grand Cherokee, using the Electronic 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Aviator, the Grand Cherokee 4xe/Limited/Trailhawk/Overland/Summit offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Aviator does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

When the Grand Cherokee with available tilt-down mirrors 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.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over 10 to one during 2022.