Compare the2025 Lincoln AviatorVS 2024 Volvo XC90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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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 Aviator are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Aviator and the XC90 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 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 Volvo XC90:

	Aviator	XC90
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	137
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	27%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	252 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	567/631 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	31%

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, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Volvo XC90:

	Aviator	XC90
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	224 lbs.	255 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	94
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	604 lbs.	608 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 safer than the XC90:

	Aviator	XC90
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	123
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.38 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.42 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Aviator is .8% to 4.4% less likely to roll over than the XC90.

Warranty

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 89 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the XC90’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 XC90 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’ 2024 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 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 2 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

Engine

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 153 more horsepower (400 vs. 247) and 157 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 258) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (400 vs. 295) and 105 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 310) than the XC90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Lincoln Aviator is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

	Aviator	XC90
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	92.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Aviator and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Aviators have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 Recharge doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Aviator uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Aviator has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (20.2 vs. 18.8 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC90.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the XC90 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC90.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Aviator uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the XC90 (119.1 inches vs. 117.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

Chassis

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 XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Aviator Reserve/Black Label uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has 36.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (140.6 vs. 103.8).

The Aviator has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room, 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom and 7.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

Cargo Capacity

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

	Aviator	XC90
Behind Third Seat	18.3 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	41.8 cubic feet	35.6 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 XC90 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.

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 XC90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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 XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 XC90 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 costs extra on the XC90.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Aviator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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