Compare the2026 Cadillac VistiqVS 2025 Lincoln Aviator

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

A passive infrared night vision system standard on the Vistiq Premium Luxury/Platinum helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Aviator doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Vistiq 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, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Cadillac Vistiq weighs 1464 to 1581 pounds more than the Lincoln Aviator. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Vistiq’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Aviator’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 55 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Lincoln.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

The Vistiq’s electric motors produces 215 more horsepower (615 vs. 400) and 235 lbs.-ft. more torque (650 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The Vistiq can travel with zero emissions for 300 miles. The Aviator can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

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

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

For better traction, the Vistiq has larger standard tires than the Aviator (285/45R21 vs. 255/55R20). The Vistiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Aviator (305/35R23 vs. 275/40R22).

The Vistiq’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Aviator’s standard 55 series tires. The Vistiq’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Aviator’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Vistiq has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Aviator. The Vistiq’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Aviator.

The Cadillac Vistiq’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lincoln Aviator only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Vistiq can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Aviator doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Vistiq’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Aviator (121.8 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Vistiq Premium Luxury/Platinum’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Aviator’s (38.2 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Vistiq has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (145.6 vs. 140.6).

The Vistiq has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, .2 inches more third row hip room and .3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

The Vistiq’s cargo area provides more volume than the Aviator.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Vistiq’s cargo door can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Aviator doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 30% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 19th.

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

The Cadillac Vistiq stands out above the Lincoln Aviator by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and and two of them provide more flexibililty. Both vehicles also offer Qi charging for the second row passengers.