Compare the2025 Lincoln AviatorVS 2024 Cadillac XT6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Aviator have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

Both the Aviator and XT6 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 XT6’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 XT6 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Aviator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT6 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Aviator’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Aviator and XT6 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Aviator has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The XT6’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

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 XT6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Aviator and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	167
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	161/358 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	38%

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Aviator is much safer than the XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	98
Hip Force	224 lbs.	255 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	180
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	288	292
Hip Force	573 lbs.	666 lbs.

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

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 much safer than the XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.1 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	168	170
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.61 in
Shoulder Force	379 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	2.2 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Aviator’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the XT6’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the XT6’s engines use 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 XT6 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 165 more horsepower (400 vs. 235) and 157 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 90 more horsepower (400 vs. 310) and 144 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 271) than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

	Aviator	XT6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	93.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Aviator has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank (20.2 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Aviator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the XT6.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Aviator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches

The Aviator stops shorter than the XT6:

	Aviator	XT6
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the XT6 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R20). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (275/40R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The Aviator’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT6’s standard 65 series tires. The Aviator’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT6. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Suspension and Handling

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 XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Aviator’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 XT6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 6.4 inches longer than on the XT6 (119.1 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 8.4 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row hip room and .5 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

Cargo Capacity

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

	Aviator	XT6
Behind Third Seat	18.3 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (5000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Aviator the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 XT6 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® 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 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 XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Aviator’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT6’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The XT6’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Aviator’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Aviator has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XT6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Aviator has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

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 XT6.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Aviator has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

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 XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2020 issue and the Lincoln Aviator Reserve AWD won out over the Cadillac XT6 Sport AWD.