Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 and available 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 1.4% to 1.8% less likely to roll over than the Aviator.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 49 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Aviator:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 42 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Aviator doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Aviator requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Aviator doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Aviator doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (36.1 feet vs. 39.2 feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 6.4 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 6.6 inches narrower than the Aviator, making the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 18.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s available 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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will cost $2255 to $7505 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will retain 59.06% to 59.32% of its original price after five years, while the Aviator only retains 50.49% to 57.9%.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Aviator isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lincoln Aviator by almost 28 to one during 2023.