2025 Lincoln Aviator vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, showcased classic design proportions. Its blunt nose, short front overhang, and appealing dash-to-axle ratio contributed to its sports wagon-like appearance, despite being an SUV. The Aviator's styling, however, was perceived as less elegant in 2025, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. Inside, the Aviator offered a plush interior with a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding the screen-heavy approach of other Lincoln models. The Aviator's remote keyless entry fob was criticized for its cheap plastic construction, but the Phone as a Key technology and touchpad entry system provided modern alternatives.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier SUV aesthetic within the Range Rover family. Its taller stance, shorter wheelbase, and chopped top gave it an athletic appearance, though it appeared a bit too tall and narrow from some angles. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood. Inside, the Range Rover Sport boasted a minimalist aesthetic with red leather upholstery and sport seats with light-up inserts. The high console and dash created a cockpit-like feel, though it made the front seats feel cramped. Material quality was up to luxury standards, but the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered various driving modes, including Excite and Normal, with an optional adaptive air suspension for a firmer ride. Despite its power, the Aviator wasn't particularly exciting to drive, focusing instead on a composed and calming cruising experience. The Aviator's fuel economy was rated at 11.9 L/100 km in combined driving, but real-world testing showed 13.3 L/100 km. The SUV provided clear sightlines and a 360-degree camera view for urban driving, though the ride quality suffered on rough roads due to its large wheels and tires.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant produced 454 hp and 487 lb-ft, while the Autobiography model offered 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two, with a twin-turbo BMW V8, delivered 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. The SV Edition Two accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension and four-wheel steering provided agility and a luxurious ride, while its Terrain Response system ensured off-road capability.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator offered exceptional comfort with its Perfect Position front seats, featuring 30-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, though the third-row seats were less accommodating for adults. The Aviator provided ample storage space, with a smartphone charging pad, cupholders, and deep door pockets. Cargo space was generous, with 466 litres behind the third row and up to 2,149 litres with the seats folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, was a two-row five-seater. It offered adequate headroom and legroom, with reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats. The Sport provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,860 litres with the seats folded. While it lacked a split tailgate, power operation and an "access height" setting made loading easier. The Sport's towing capacity was competitive, with turbo-six and V8 models rated at 3,500 kilograms.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience. It supported Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts in the test vehicle. The Aviator's 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system delivered excellent audio quality, and the head-up display provided valuable information.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional limitations, requiring screen widgets for climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0, offering advanced driver assistance systems like active blind-spot monitoring, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system, was standard, providing proactive control handover. The Aviator received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. At the time of writing, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable for the current-generation Range Rover Sport.