Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’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.

With its standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, the Honda Pilot is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Pilot and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Honda Pilot 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 an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Aviator is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

There are almost 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Pilot’s reliability 15 points higher than the Aviator.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 18 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

On the EPA test cycle the Pilot gets better mileage than the Aviator:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Aviator requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Pilot higher (7 out of 10) than the Lincoln Aviator (5). This means the Pilot produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Aviator every 15,000 miles.

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

The Pilot stops shorter than the Aviator:

The Pilot 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 Pilot TrailSport 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.

The Pilot TrailSport handles at .81 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot TrailSport’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.2 feet). The Pilot’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (37.8 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 450 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

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

The Pilot has 17.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (158.4 vs. 140.6).

The Pilot has .4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 3.3 inches more third row legroom, 3.7 inches more third row hip room and 5.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The Aviator’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Pilot Elite/Touring/Black Edition’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.

Consumer Reports rated the Pilot’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Pilot owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pilot will cost $2700 to $8605 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Aviator isn't recommended.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over seven to one during 2023.