The Lincoln Aviator, a blast from the past, continues to go strong, carving itself out a nice little niche as a midsize luxury crossover. Not nearly as large and unwieldy as the much bigger Lincoln Navigator, the Aviator is close to the perfect size and a great balance between upgraded luxury options and the performance you want from a crossover SUV.
Under the Hood
The Aviator’s got plenty of power under the hood. A 3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with auto stop-start offers a highly efficient 400 horsepower with an accompanying 415 lb.-ft. of torque, giving this SUV enough power to haul itself up some steep hills while pulling moderate loads. Combined with its 10-speed automatic transmission, hill start assist, and available adaptive all-wheel drive and you’ve got a fairly agile little mountain goat of a crossover SUV.
Handling is solid as well, thanks to lane keep assist, traction control, 4-wheel ABS brakes, auto hold, and electric power-assisted steering as standard. Plenty of options are available as well for smoothing your ride even further, including evasive steering assist, adaptive suspension, reverse brake assist, and the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus suite of adaptive features like active parking assistance that turns parallel parking into a one-button maneuver.
Going For a Ride
Midsize crossover SUVs often sacrifice a bit of interior room for better handling and gas mileage, and the Aviator does end up doing a bit of that. This three-row SUV seats 7, and the third row is perfect for the size of a child. Kids should have no problem enjoying both long and short rides, however, especially since the 2nd-row center console is designed to make passing through easy. A WiFi hotspot and 4 USB ports come standard as well, which means the kids can plug in their phones and tablets and watch some Netflix while you’re on the road, keeping them out of your hair.
Up front, it’s all luxury with the Aviator, as even the standard levels of trim leaves nothing to sneeze at. Tri-zone climate controls will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, the front center console offers two power points, two cup holders, a deep storage bin, and armrests, and the 10.1-inch touchscreen center stack display is easy and intuitive to use for anyone looking to manage all your SUV’s functions. Options like heated steering wheels, panoramic power sunshades, and other goodies sweeten the pot, along with your sticker price.
Speaking of Sticker Price
The base Aviator comes with a standard MSRP of around $52,000. That’s a big price tag, but for the level of trim you get, it’s just worth it. Higher levels of trim up the ante, including an Aviator GT at just over $69,000 that includes not just more bells and whistles but also a hybrid electric powertrain that tacks on an additional 100 horsepower. Go Black Label GT, the top level of trim, and you’re looking at a minimum of $88,000 for your fully maxed-out Aviator.
When it comes to price versus what you get, the sweet spot is most certainly the Aviator Reserve level of trim, which clocks in at around $58,000. It’s got enough of the luxury you need without extras, but if needed, you can get the all-wheel drive for an upgrade.
In the end, the Lincoln Aviator offers a solid driving experience, making it a great contender for a midsize luxury crossover SUV. While the high-level trim may not be worth it when it comes to what you pay for, the Reserve price point gets you the best balance of luxury, performance, and affordability.
