Lincoln Aviator vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It boasted features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large centre console, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, showcased classic design proportions with a blunt nose, short front overhang, and a tapered roofline. While its styling was appealing, the 2025 tweaks made it appear more generic. Inside, the Aviator offered a plush interior with a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding an overload of screens. However, the remote keyless entry fob was criticized for its cheap plastic construction. The Aviator was available in Premiere and Reserve trims in Canada, with prices ranging from $79,595 to $81,695. Our test vehicle, in Reserve trim, featured options like Whisper Blue paint, a centre console between second-row captain’s chairs, and packages like Reserve 201A, Jet Appearance, and Dynamic Handling. The Reserve 201A package added features like upgraded exterior lighting, 30-way-adjustable front seats with massage, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima audio system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, generated 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was noted for its size, making it less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander. It had solid brakes and adequate acceleration, with three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal. Gas-only and Hybrid Max models also had Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow modes.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured 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 driving modes like Excite, Conserve, Normal, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The optional adaptive air suspension firmed up in Excite mode, but the Aviator was more about comfort than excitement. The V6 provided ample power for acceleration and passing, though fuel economy was a concern, with an observed 13.3 L/100 km. The Aviator offered clear sightlines and a 360-degree camera view for parking. Ride quality was pleasant in urban settings, but larger bumps affected comfort due to the 22-inch wheels and thin tires. On highways, road noise was noticeable, but the Aviator remained quiet inside. The adaptive Air Glide suspension controlled body motions, ensuring a composed ride.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This translated to extra storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing the Kia Telluride by over 300 litres. With seats in position, it offered 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. Even the third row accommodated six-foot adults comfortably.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator offered luxurious comfort with its Perfect Position front seats, adjustable in 30 ways with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain’s chairs were roomy and supportive, with available heating and ventilation. However, the third-row seats were less accommodating, with low, flat cushions and limited legroom. Storage space was excellent, with a centre console featuring a smartphone charging pad, cupholders, and a sizeable bin. The Aviator provided 466 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,131 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,149 litres. While not the largest in its class, it remained practical.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. It offered features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying “Hey Toyota,” was available via a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

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 included Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant in the test vehicle struggled with voice prompts. The Aviator’s 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system delivered excellent audio quality. The available head-up display provided a widescreen presentation of data, including lane departure warnings and blind-spot alerts.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems. It included active blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system, was standard, offering a four-year subscription. The Aviator received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.