Compare the2024 Mercedes GLEVS 2024 Lincoln Aviator

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The GLE’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Aviator doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

With its available Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function, the Mercedes GLE is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	GLE	Aviator
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-23 MPH	-9 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-24 MPH	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-4 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-15 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	1.8 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-8 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	.9 sec	.4 sec

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLE. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLE has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Aviator doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLE and the Aviator 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	GLE	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	125
Neck Injury Risk	24%	26.3%
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	26 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	209	318
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	129 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	GLE	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	65
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	264	288
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Mercedes GLE (only applies to vehicles with optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Aviator is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Lincoln.

Engine

The GLE 450e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 64 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6. The GLE 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 110 more horsepower (510 vs. 400) and 123 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lincoln Aviator:

	GLE	Aviator
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	6.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	98 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
GLE
	AWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
Aviator
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions for 48 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The GLE’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator (22.5 vs. 20.2 gallons).

The GLE has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Aviator. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE 450e’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

	GLE 450e	Aviator
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.6 inches

The GLE stops shorter than the Aviator:

	GLE	Aviator
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE 580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Aviator (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 275/40R22).

The GLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Aviator’s standard 60 series tires. The GLE 580’s optional 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Aviator’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Aviator doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lincoln doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Aviator.

The GLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Aviator doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (9.2 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The GLE is 5 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 18.3 cubic feet).

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Aviator’s (7700 vs. 5600 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Aviator, the GLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLE’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.

The GLE’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Access standard on the Aviator doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the GLE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Aviator doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Aviator doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

When the GLE is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Aviator’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Aviator Reserve/Black Label offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the GLE owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GLE will cost $355 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost four to one during 2023.