Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime

Both the Aviator and Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime’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 Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Aviator has standard Cross-Traffic Alert with Braking with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the Rav4 Prime XSE, and isn't offered on other Rav4 Prime models.

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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Aviator and the Rav4 Prime 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Lincoln Aviator weighs 445 to 1438 pounds more than the Toyota Rav4 Prime. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Rav4 Prime:

The Aviator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Rav4 Prime’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 Rav4 Prime. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Prime ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Lincoln Aviator’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Rav4 Prime’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 Rav4 Prime 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.

The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 192 more horsepower (494 vs. 302) than the Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator turbo V6 is faster than the Toyota Rav4 Prime:

The Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 Prime (18 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Aviator’s standard fuel tank has 5.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 Prime (20.2 vs. 14.5 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Aviator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Prime:

The Aviator stops shorter than the Rav4 Prime:

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Rav4 Prime (255/60R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rav4 Prime (275/40R22 vs. 235/55R19).

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 Rav4 Prime XSE’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 Rav4 Prime SE. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Rav4 Prime XSE.

The Aviator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rav4 Prime’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 Rav4 Prime’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 Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 13.2 inches longer than on the Rav4 Prime (119.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Rav4 Prime.

The Aviator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Rav4 Prime’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Aviator more stable handling and braking.

The Aviator Grand Touring AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rav4 Prime XSE (26.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 Prime SE (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Aviator’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Rav4 Prime XSE (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches).

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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Aviator has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Rav4 Prime can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 45.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 Prime (144.7 vs. 98.9).

The Aviator has 3.8 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, 4.2 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, 10.6 inches more rear hip room and 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rav4 Prime.

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the Rav4 Prime.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4 Prime’s (5600 vs. 2500 pounds).

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Safety Connect™ can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Aviator’s power window switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4 Prime’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Rav4 Prime’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

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 Rav4 Prime.

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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Aviator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.