Compare the2025 GMC YukonVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

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

Safety

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The Yukon 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Yukon Ultimate helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Aviator doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Yukon and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The GMC Yukon weighs 740 to 1199 pounds more than the Lincoln Aviator. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Yukon	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	26.3%
Leg Forces (l/r)	152/161 lbs.	230/210 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 GMC Yukon is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	Yukon	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	65
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	161 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	224 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	604 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	288
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s

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

Warranty

The Yukon’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Aviator’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 3 times as many GMC dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 23 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 45 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Lincoln.

Engine

The Yukon’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The Aviator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Yukon has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator (24 vs. 20.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Yukon	Aviator
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the Aviator (275/60R20 vs. 255/55R20). The Yukon Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Aviator (285/40R24 vs. 275/40R22).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon Denali offers optional 24-inch wheels. The Aviator’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

The GMC Yukon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lincoln Aviator only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Yukon 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.

The Yukon has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Aviator; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Aviator (120.9 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Aviator.

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Ultimate Air Ride has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (10 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Yukon offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Aviator can only carry up to 7.

The Yukon has 27.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (168.3 vs. 140.6).

The Yukon has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 4 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.3 inches more third row headroom, 5.7 inches more third row legroom, 8.5 inches more third row hip room and 8.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Yukon	Aviator
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	18.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.5 cubic feet	41.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121.7 cubic feet	77.7 cubic feet

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Yukon AT4/Denali’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind 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.

Towing

The Yukon’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Aviator’s (7500 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Aviator is only 5000 pounds. The Yukon offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Yukon can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Aviator can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Yukon’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 Yukon’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, 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.

When the Yukon 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.

Both the Yukon and the Aviator offer available massaging front seats. The Yukon Denali Ultimate also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the Aviator.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Yukon owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Yukon will cost $2480 to $8340 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon second among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Aviator isn’t in the top three.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over five to one during 2023.