Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Lincoln Aviator

The iX’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.

The iX’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Aviator doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the Aviator.

The BMW iX’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Lincoln Aviator lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 705 to 1104 pounds more than the Lincoln Aviator. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, 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 iX xDrive45’s standard electric motors produces 2 more horsepower (402 vs. 400) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6. The iX xDrive60’s standard electric motors produces 136 more horsepower (536 vs. 400) and 149 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6. The iX M70’s standard electric motors produces 250 more horsepower (650 vs. 400) and 396 lbs.-ft. more torque (811 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

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

The iX can travel with zero emissions for 312 to 364 miles (dependent on model). The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The iX has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Aviator. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage; a locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Lincoln Aviator (5). This means the iX produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Aviator every 15,000 miles.

The iX M70’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.

The iX stops much shorter than the Aviator:

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Aviator’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX offers optional 23-inch wheels. The Aviator’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

The iX M70 handles at .86 G’s, while the Aviator AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Aviator Reserve AWD (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (8.8 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The iX is 4.2 inches shorter than the Aviator, making the iX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The iX has 3.2 inches more front hip room and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Aviator.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Aviator with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 16.5 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Aviator with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 75.9 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Aviator is limited to 5000 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

The iX’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, 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.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Aviator’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

Consumer Reports rated the iX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Aviator’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the iX 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 iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Aviator.

The iX’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Aviator (except Premiere)’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.