Compare the2024 Lincoln AviatorVS 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge

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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Aviator and the XC40 Recharge 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.

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 XC40 Recharge:

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 163 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 Recharge has not been fully tested, yet.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40 Recharge. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC40 Recharge ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 42 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Volvo.

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 Volvo 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, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 4 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Aviator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the XC40 Recharge are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the XC40 Recharge (255/60R19 vs. 235/50R19). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 Recharge (275/40R22 vs. 235/50R19).

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 XC40 Recharge’s optional 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator offers optional 22-inch wheels. The XC40 Recharge’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Aviator has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the XC40 Recharge; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 XC40 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 12.7 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (119.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the XC40 Recharge.

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 Recharge (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Aviator (except Premiere) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Aviator has standard seating for 7 passengers; the XC40 Recharge can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 46.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 Recharge (144.7 vs. 98).

The Aviator has 3.9 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, 3.8 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear hip room and 5 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40 Recharge.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Aviator’s middle row seats recline. The XC40 Recharge’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC40 Recharge.

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC40 Recharge’s (5600 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Aviator has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Aviator (except Premiere) 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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Aviator has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC40 Recharge 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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Aviator (except Premiere) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XC40 Recharge.

The Aviator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Aviator (except Premiere)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Aviator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Lincoln Aviator outsold the Volvo XC40 by 18% during 2022.