Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 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 Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Aviator doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder 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, 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, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Pathfinder its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

There are over 57 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

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

Both the Pathfinder and the Aviator have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Pathfinders 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.

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

The Pathfinder 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 Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1050 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Aviator can only carry 7.

The Pathfinder has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (148 vs. 144.7).

The Pathfinder has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more third row headroom, 5.8 inches more third row hip room and 4.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder’s middle and third row seats recline. The Aviator’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Aviator is limited to 5600 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Pathfinder, using the Vehicle Dynamic 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.

When the Pathfinder Platinum 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 Pathfinder owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pathfinder will cost $825 to $7995 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 Nissan Pathfinder will be $11133 to $27213 less than for the Lincoln Aviator.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost three to one during 2022.