Compare the2025 Volvo XC90VS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

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

Safety

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The XC90’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.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC90 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lincoln Aviator doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The Volvo XC90 offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. Lincoln doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the Aviator. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC90 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC90’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Aviator’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The Aviator doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard Collision Warning with Full Autobrake, the Volvo XC90 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	XC90	Aviator
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Low beams	-11 MPH	-9 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-24 MPH	-9 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-21 MPH	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-15 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.2 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-9 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	.5 sec	.4 sec

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XC90. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Both the XC90 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, 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 around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo XC90 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	XC90	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	26 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	217	318
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	129 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	383/334 lbs.	380/405 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 Volvo XC90 is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	XC90	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	51	65
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	153 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	209	288
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	383 lbs.	573 lbs.

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

The Volvo XC90 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.

Warranty

The XC90’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Aviator’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC90 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Aviator. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Aviator models.)

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volvo higher than Lincoln.

Engine

The XC90 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (455 vs. 400) and 108 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator:

			MPGe
XC90
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	59 city/57 hwy
Aviator
			MPG
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/25 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the XC90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Aviator:

			MPG
XC90
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/27 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Aviator
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/25 hwy

The XC90 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XC90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Aviator doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC90 T8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

	XC90 T8	Aviator
Front Rotors	14.4 inches	13.6 inches

The XC90 stops much shorter than the Aviator:

	XC90	Aviator
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC90 has larger tires than the Aviator (275/45R20 vs. 255/55R20).

The XC90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Aviator’s standard 55 series tires. The XC90’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Aviator’s optional 40 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The XC90 B6 Core handles at .85 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 XC90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (8.8 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the XC90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The XC90 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Aviator (9.9 vs. 8.7 inches).

Chassis

The XC90 is 4.3 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the XC90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The XC90 has 2.7 inches more third row legroom and 4 inches more third row hip room than the Aviator.

Cargo Capacity

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

	XC90	Aviator
Second Seat Folded	85.7 cubic feet	77.7 cubic feet

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XC90’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Aviator doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Aviator, the XC90 Ultimate has a 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.

The XC90’s standard Keyless Entry 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 XC90 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC90 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Aviator doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the XC90 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.

Recommendations

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Volvo XC90, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

Motor Trend selected the XC90 as their 2016 Sport Utility of the Year. The Aviator has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC90 as the 2016 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Aviator has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC90 outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost three to one during 2023.

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