The Pathfinder Platinum 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 Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, the Nissan Pathfinder is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Pathfinder and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive and 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Lincoln Aviator:

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

The Nissan Pathfinder 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 a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Aviator is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

There are over 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder'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 Pathfinder's reliability 16 points higher than the Aviator.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Pathfinder third among upper midsize SUVs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Aviator isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Lincoln.

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

For better stopping power the Pathfinder's front brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

The Pathfinder has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle's integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Aviator doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder's turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Aviator's (37.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the Lincoln Aviator.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Aviator can only carry up to 7.

The Pathfinder has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (148.5 vs. 140.6).

The Pathfinder has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more third row headroom, 5.9 inches more third row hip room and 4.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder's middle and third row seats recline. The Aviator's third row seats don't recline.

The Pathfinder's cargo area provides more volume than the Aviator.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Aviator is limited to 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

When the Pathfinder Platinum 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.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Lincoln Aviator by over four to one during 2025.