Compare the2025 Toyota HighlanderVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Highlander 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Toyota Highlander is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

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

The Toyota Highlander achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Aviator is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota 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.)

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’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 Highlander’s reliability 34 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 Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 32 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 statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 104 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 23rd.

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

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

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. 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.

The Highlander stops shorter than the Aviator:

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Highlander is 4.4 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Highlander has 4.7 inches more third row hip room and 1 inch more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

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

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum’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 Highlander’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the Highlander Limited/Platinum 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 Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $2565 to $8525 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

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

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost 11 to one during 2023.