Lincoln Aviator vs Lincoln Navigator
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Summary
Same badge, different classes. The Aviator is a mid-size unibody from $56,910; the Navigator is a full-size body-on-frame from $91,995. The Navigator wins every capacity spec: third-row legroom (36.5 vs 29.2 in), cargo behind row 3 (21.6 vs 18.3 cu ft), maximum cargo (107 vs 77.7 cu ft), towing (8,700 vs 5,000 lb), and seats (8 vs 7).
The Aviator's case is price and footprint: it delivers the Lincoln cabin and a usable-for-kids third row at 62% of the Navigator's starting price. If adults ride in row 3 or you tow above 5,000 lb, the gap closes the decision for the Navigator.
The numbers, side by side
| Spec | Lincoln Aviator | Lincoln Navigator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| MSRP range | $56,910 – $85,910 | $91,995 – $119,525 |
| Space | ||
| Row 1 legroom | 43" | 43.5" |
| Row 2 legroom | 39" | 40.9" |
| Row 3 legroom | 29.2" | 36.5" |
| Row 3 headroom | 36.9" | 37.4" |
| Cargo behind row 3 | 18.3 cu ft | 21.6 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 77.7 cu ft | 107 cu ft |
| Capability | ||
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs | 8,700 lbs |
| Seating | ||
| Max seats | 7 | 8 |
Third-row reality
This is the widest spec gap between the two: the Navigator's 36.5 inches of third-row legroom is the segment high; the Aviator's 29.2 in is near the segment floor. Headroom is closer — 36.9 in Aviator, 37.4 in Navigator — but legroom is what determines whether knees fit.
In practice the Aviator's third row is a kids-and-short- trips row, while the Navigator's handles adults on multi-hour drives. If that distinction matters weekly, it is the whole comparison.
Cargo capacity
Behind the third row the gap is modest — 21.6 cu ft Navigator, 18.3 cu ft Aviator — both enough for a grocery run or a stroller with all seats up. Folded, the classes separate: 107 cu ft Navigator versus 77.7 cu ft Aviator.
Households that regularly move bulky cargo — furniture, bikes, airport runs for seven — will feel the 29 cu ft difference; households that rarely fold row 2 will not.
Towing capacity
The Navigator tows 8,700 lb — the segment high. The Aviator tows 5,000 lb with its Class III package — the segment floor, shared with the MDX, TX, and XC90.
A small utility trailer or pop-up camper fits either. A boat, horse trailer, or travel trailer above 5,000 lb rules the Aviator out entirely.
Pricing and trims
The Aviator spans $56,910 (Premiere) to $85,910 (Black Label); the Navigator spans $91,995 to $119,525 (Black Label). The ladders barely overlap — a loaded Aviator Black Label still undercuts a base Navigator by about $6,000.
That overlap point is the honest decision zone: at roughly $86–92k you are choosing between a fully-contented mid-size and a base full-size. Below it, the Aviator is simply the Lincoln three-row you can buy for the money.
When each one fits
Lincoln Aviator: The third row is for children or occasional use, towing stays under 5,000 lb, and a mid-size footprint (and price) fits the household better. Front-row space is generous — 43.0 in of legroom is among the most in the segment.
Lincoln Navigator: Adults use the third row, the trailer exceeds 5,000 lb, or the eighth seat is required. Every capacity spec on this page is a class apart — that is what the extra $35,000 buys.
Compare legroom yourself
Find your match
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