Compare the2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVVS 2024 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 Outlander PHEV 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 Outlander PHEV 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outlander PHEV. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Both the Outlander PHEV 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 and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander PHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Aviator last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

The Outlander PHEV comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Aviator’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Outlander PHEV 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lincoln covers the Aviator. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Aviator ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Outlander PHEV’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Aviator’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Outlander PHEV for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mitsubishi vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mitsubishi higher than Lincoln.

On the EPA test cycle the Outlander PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator:

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

The Outlander PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Outlander PHEV’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Aviator doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Aviator requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Outlander PHEV has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Aviator doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

The Outlander PHEV 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.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander PHEV’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Outlander PHEV is 1 foot, 1.9 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Outlander PHEV is 6.4 inches narrower than the Aviator, making the Outlander PHEV easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

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

Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Outlander PHEV, using the Active 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 Outlander PHEV SEL has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Outlander PHEV has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Aviator doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Outlander PHEV SEL 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 Outlander PHEV owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outlander PHEV will cost $1490 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 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be $9098 to $31542 less than for the Lincoln Aviator.

The Mitsubishi Outlander outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over three to one during 2023.