Compare the2025 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

Both the Niro 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Aviator’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lincoln covers the Aviator. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Aviator ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 47 percent more Kia dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 25th, below the industry 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator:

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

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Niro 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 Kia Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid higher (6 out of 10) than the Lincoln Aviator (5). This means the Niro Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Aviator every 15,000 miles.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Aviator doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid stops shorter than the Aviator:

For better maneuverability, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 4.4 feet tighter than the Aviator’s (34.8 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1350 to 1400 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid is 2 feet, 1.3 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the Niro Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid is 7.8 inches narrower than the Aviator, making the Niro Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid is 8.8 inches shorter in height than the Aviator, making the Niro Plug-In Hybrid much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (19.4 vs. 18.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’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.

Consumer Reports rated the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Niro Plug-In Hybrid will cost $2215 to $8020 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Aviator isn't recommended.

The Kia Niro outsold the Lincoln Aviator by 34% during 2024.