Compare the2026 BMW XMVS 2026 Lincoln Aviator

The XM’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Aviator doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XM. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

Both the XM 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 seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The BMW XM weighs 1229 to 1346 pounds more than the Lincoln Aviator. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The XM’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Aviator’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the XM for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Aviator. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Aviator models.)

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated below average.

The XM’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 338 more horsepower (738 vs. 400) and 323 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW XM is faster than the Lincoln Aviator:

On the EPA test cycle the XM running on electricity gets better mileage than the Aviator:

The XM Label can travel with zero emissions for 30 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XM’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Aviator doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The XM has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Aviator doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

The XM’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Aviator doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the XM’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Aviator:

The XM stops much shorter than the Aviator:

For better traction, the XM has larger tires than the Aviator (F:275/35R23 & R:315/30R23 vs. 255/55R20).

The XM’s standard 275/40R22 front and 315/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Aviator’s standard 55 series tires. The XM’s 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Aviator’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XM has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Aviator. The XM’s 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Aviator.

The XM has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Aviator doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The rear suspension of the XM uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Aviator, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The XM offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lincoln doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Aviator.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XM’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Aviator (122.2 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XM is 1.1 inches wider in the front than on the Aviator.

The XM Label handles at .97 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XM Label executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.3 seconds quicker than the Aviator Reserve AWD (23.9 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The XM has 2.9 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear hip room than the Aviator.

The XM has a much larger cargo volume than the Aviator with its rear seat up (18.6 vs. 16.5 cubic feet).

The XM’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Aviator’s (5952 vs. 5000 pounds).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Aviator, the XM has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the XM to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Aviator doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the XM is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Aviator’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW XM has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Aviator.