Compare the2027 Lincoln Aviator VS 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Both the Aviator and Grand Cherokee have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Aviator has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Grand Cherokee’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Aviator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Aviator and Grand Cherokee have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Aviator has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Aviator and the Grand Cherokee 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 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/188 lbs.	482/259 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/281 lbs.	400/347 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Aviator is much safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	360/495 pounds	495/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

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 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	87
Abdominal Force	161 lbs.	192 lbs.
Hip Force	224 lbs.	235 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	164
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	288	458
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Aviator is 2.8% to 4.4% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

The Lincoln Aviator has a better fatality history. The Aviator was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 7% lower per vehicle registered than the Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Aviator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Grand Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Grand Cherokee. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Grand Cherokee ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Lincoln Aviator’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Grand Cherokee’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Aviator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a safe place to stop. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Aviator has a 220-amp alternator. The Grand Cherokee’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 54 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Lincoln higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 4 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 107 more horsepower (400 vs. 293) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 76 more horsepower (400 vs. 324) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 332) than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee Laredo	Grand Cherokee turbo 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	7.3 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.5 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	89.8 MPH	89.3 MPH

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Aviator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

The Aviator stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend

The Aviator’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee

’s standard 60 series tires. The Aviator’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Grand Cherokee Summit’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee

. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Grand Cherokee Summit.

The Aviator’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Grand Cherokee (119.1 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee.

The Aviator Reserve AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Aviator AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 (27.1 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (8.7 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Aviator offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 33.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (140.6 vs. 107).

The Aviator has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, 2 inches more rear hip room and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

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

	Aviator	Grand Cherokee
Third Seat Folded	39.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	37.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.9 cubic feet	70.8 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

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

The Aviator’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Aviator the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Aviator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Aviator (except Premiere)’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Lincoln Aviator has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Grand Cherokee Summit.

The Aviator has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Grand Cherokee Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit.

The Lincoln Aviator has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee Limited/Summit.

The Aviator (except Premiere)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee Summit’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.