Compare the2026 Lincoln AviatorVS 2026 Tesla Model Y

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Aviator are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Aviator’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model Y doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Aviator has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Aviator and the Model Y 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, 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

	Aviator	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/188 lbs.	298/427 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	165 lbs.
Neck Compression	118 lbs.	189 lbs.

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

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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

	Aviator	Model Y
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	358
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	45 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	573 lbs.	682 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

Engine

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (400 vs. 295) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 309) than the Model Y Long Range RWD’s standard electric motor. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 3 more horsepower (400 vs. 397) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 389) than the Model Y Long Range AWD’s standard electric motors.

Brakes and Stopping

The Aviator stops shorter than the Model Y:

	Aviator	Model Y
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (275/40R22 vs. 255/35R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model Y. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Model Y Performance.

The Aviator offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Aviator flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y Performance suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Aviator Reserve/Black Label has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Model Y (119.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Model Y.

For better maneuverability, the Aviator’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (39.2 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (8.7 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Aviator Reserve/Black Label uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Model Y can only carry 6.

The Aviator has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 4.7 inches more front hip room, 5.1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 7.7 inches more rear hip room and 7.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Aviator offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, certain gauge, warning, turn signal and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Aviator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Model Y doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Aviator has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Aviator’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Aviator has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model Y doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Aviator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Aviator (except Premiere) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model Y.

The Aviator is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model Y, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Aviator offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model Y.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Aviator equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model Y, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Lincoln Aviator empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Lincoln Aviator equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

The Aviator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Lincoln Aviator retains 45.62% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 39.16% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model Y after five years, which can save the Lincoln’s owner up to $5052.61157 in depreciation.

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