Compare the2025 Buick EnclaveVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Enclave 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.

With its standard Front Pedestrian Braking, the Buick Enclave is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Enclave	Aviator
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-9 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-22 MPH	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-16 MPH	-4 MPH
37 MPH Brights	-16 MPH	-15 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	1.9 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-16 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	.4 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Buick Enclave achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lincoln Aviator has not been tested.

The Buick Enclave’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Lincoln Aviator does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

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

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

	Enclave	Aviator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	29.4%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	275 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	13 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	196/188 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, results indicate that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

	Enclave	Aviator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	65
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	518 lbs.	604 lbs.

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

The Buick Enclave has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Aviator is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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

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

Reliability

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 Enclave’s reliability 33 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 Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 60 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 Buick vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 102 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 25th.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Enclave
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy
Aviator
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	17 city/25 hwy

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

The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator (21.7 vs. 20.2 gallons).

The Enclave 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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Aviator:

	Enclave	Aviator
60 to 0 MPH	109 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Buick Enclave’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.

Suspension and Handling

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

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

Chassis

The Buick Enclave may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 200 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

Passenger Space

The Enclave has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row headroom, 2.9 inches more third row legroom, 7.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Enclave	Aviator
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	18.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.1 cubic feet	41.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	77.7 cubic feet

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Enclave’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.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Buick 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

The Enclave’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 Enclave’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.

Recommendations

The Buick Enclave outsold the Lincoln Aviator by 937 units during 2024.

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