2020 Lincoln Aviator

The Aviator solidifies Lincoln's return to the vanguard of American luxury- CarAndDriver

Whether it is carrying the family to the countryside or driving around the city while having business meetings on the rear seat, the all-new Lincoln Aviator has a package that could fit and fulfill everybody’s needs. Plus, it comes with an extremely competitive price tag and undercuts most of its rivals. It is agile and delivers a smooth ride. Its cabin also boasts a stylish and modern look. 

Apart from its low price tag, the Aviator owners will also be happy with low ownership costs which are nearly $11,800 every year. It's really less compared to German rivals. This cost includes repair, maintenance, depreciation, fuel, etc. Since this is the debut sale year of the Aviator, we cannot comment on its resale value but it scored 77 out of 100 for its reliability, which is pretty decent. 

 The Reserve trim should just suffice as it comes with plenty of features and it also offers some options that are available on higher trims. This trim adds genuine leather upholstery, second-row captain chairs, hands-free power tailgate, quad-zone automatic climate control, 12-way power front seats, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a 360-degree parking camera. We suggest you go for the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Plus package as it adds more driver aids to the list. 

The 2020 Aviator poses some value questions, but its features and infotainment excel- The Car Connection

The Lincoln Aviator is offered in just three different trim levels with prices starting from $51,100 and climbing all the way up to $77,695. These trims include Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. Only one powertrain is available but two drivetrains (RWD and AWD) are available on all except the top-end Black Label which comes standard with an AWD system. 

For an SUV that starts just over 51 grand, the Aviator offers ample comfort and technological features. But, there are few optional packages exclusive for some trims. The Interior Elements package adds heated rear outboard seats, windshield wipers, and steering wheel for $1000 in the Standard trim. A $500 Class IV Trailer Tow package adds trailer away control and 4 & 7-in connectors. 

The Aviator builds speed quickly, and the automatic makes the most of the engine's considerable power- Cars.com

The Lincoln Aviator comes equipped with a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine that is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The engine churns out a whopping 400 hp and 415 lb-ft. of torque and these numbers are just crazy for a vehicle in this segment. All this power and torque is sent to the rear wheels as standard while you can always pay an extra $2,500 and avail the AWD configuration for better traction and stability. Its towing capacity is rated at 6,700 pounds, which is good for a midsize luxury SUV. 

The Lincoln Navigator is a large SUV and it drives like one. The first thing that you’ll notice after getting behind the wheel is how light the steering is, but there is not much feedback on offer. Ride quality, on the other hand, is plush like it should be in a luxury SUV. The suspension setup is on the softer side and it absorbs all the bumps and potholes and hardly any travel up to your spine. However, there is a good amount of body roll and the body of the SUV does roll a bit too much when you throw it around the corners.

Performance is the best aspect of the Aviator. It is pretty quick off the straight line thanks to its punchy engine and slick-shifting gearbox. It can do a 0-60 MPH sprint in flat 5 seconds and hits the quarter-mile mark in 13.5 seconds. The SUV’s top speed is electronically limited to 145 mph and it has the capacity to go even faster. The Aviator isn’t all that great in terms of braking. The large ventilated disc brakes help to decelerate this SUV from 60 MPH in 124 feet, which is more than its class rivals. 

The Aviator has the best performance numbers in the competition. The SUV that comes closest to it is the pricier Audi Q7. It makes 65 hp less than the Aviator but its performance stats are decent for its size. It also flaunts the best towing capacity. The Volvo XC90 comes in third and its turbocharged and supercharged engine delivers smooth power. The Cadillac XT6 is the slowest in this competition as it produces the least power. Moreover, it is an FWD vehicle. 

When we consider fuel economy, the Aviator isn't terrible, but it isn't the most frugal either- Carbuzz

If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient SUV, then the luxury SUV segment is not the segment you should be looking at because all the vehicles here are proper gas guzzlers. The Lincoln Aviator delivers 18 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on a highway, and  21 MPG combined. The AWD models drop down the gas mileage by 1 MPG.

These figures clearly aren’t all that economical but still pretty decent compared to some other SUVs in the segment. The Aviator gets a decently sized fuel tank measuring 20.2 gallons. It delivers a combined driving range of 444 miles while the AWD models drop down this to 414 miles. The Aviator has the best range in its class owing to its large fuel tank. 

The Audi Q7 is the biggest gas guzzler in the competition. The Volvo XC90, on the other hand, has the best fuel economy. It is the one to go for if you do not wish to spend much on fuel. The Aviator claims slightly better fuel ratings than the Cadillac XT6 and it delivers the lowest range in this competition. 

The materials and color themes are all top-notch with premium leather coverings combining a choice of wood or metal accents- Forbes

Lincoln has upped its game in terms of quality of materials and it is pretty evident from the way the Lincoln Aviator's interior is built. At the front, you have a nice, multi-contoured dashboard. The dashboard has a very unique design and is made of soft-touch plastic. The Aviator is offered in 6 and 7 seat configurations. Perforated leather seats are standard on all but the base trim which settles for synthetic leather. The front seats are pretty snug, cushy and they just feel nice.

They can be adjusted electronically in 30 directions on the top-most Black Label trim. Heated front seats are standard but ventilated and massaged front seats are available on higher trims. The rear seats are pretty comfortable as well and they also get heated and ventilated functionality on the Black Label trim. Passenger space is great in the first two rows but you wouldn't want your adult friends in the third row for longer trips. Bu tin general, they can accommodate adults. 

The infotainment system sits right up in the middle of the dash while the controls are stacked up on the center console. The touchscreen measures 10.1 inches and is pretty easy and intuitive to use. It functions on Ford's SYNC 3 interface and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard offerings. You also get a 5.8-inch touchscreen in the second row for adjusting climate and audio settings. A 14-speaker Revel audio system is standard on all but the base trim that comes along with a 10-speaker setup.

The Aviator also has a good amount of room for carrying luggage. You get 18.3 cu-ft. of trunk volume, which is more than its rivals. The third-row seats can be power folded to reveal 41.8 cu-ft. of cargo storage. With a maximum cargo capacity of 77.7 cu-ft. of cargo room, the Aviator is one of the best cargo haulers in the class. You can also find some extra space underneath the load floor for an actual spare tire. Some cool cabin highlights of the Aviator are mentioned below:

• Power tilt & telescopic multi-function heated, leather steering wheel
• 30-way front power heated, ventilated & massaged front seats
• Heated & ventilated second-row seats
• Leatherette & leather upholstery
• Quad-zone automatic climate control
• Illuminated door sill
• Wood interior trim
• 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 14-speaker Revel audio system
• Wireless charging

Like an athlete in a high-end suit, the Aviator has a powerful and sophisticated presence- Carfax

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator shares its platform with the Ford Explorer but there’s no resemblance between the two cars. It has a more grand and strong presence than the Explorer even though both the cars are similar in size and shape. The best part of the Aviator is that it doesn’t look overdone. Upfront, the Aviator has a large rectangular chrome-clad grille looks rich and gives the car an upscale fascia. Then there are those striking swept-back headlights with DRLs that look cool.

There's also a nice LED turn-indicator stripe that sits a couple of inches below the headlight. The long hood and the extended silhouette make it look like the Navigator but in fact, it's 10 inches shorter. The base trim gets 19-inch alloys but 20 and 22-inch alloys are also available. The Aviator has a high ground clearance of 8.7 inches, good for shifting off to the tarmac. Even the rear design of the Aviator is stylish enough to draw attention to this SUV. It is backed up by LED rear center brake lights and quad exhaust tips. 

While all the competitors on the table have their ground clearance, the Cadillac XT6 is the only vehicle with a ground clearance of 6.7 inches. It's decent for an SUV and it's also easy to get inside the SUV. At 5,082 pounds, the Audi Q7 is the bulkiest SUV in this competition. The Volvo XC90 is the shortest SUV with an overall length of 194.9 inches. This benefits from easy maneuvering at tight spots. Some main exterior features of the Aviator are:

• LED cornering headlights
• LED DRLs
• Puddle lamps
• Door courtesy lights
• LED brake lights
• Aluminum roof rails
• Chrome grille with active grille shutters
• Chrome, power-folding, heated mirrors
• Chrome rocker panels
• Rear roofline spoiler
• Chrome window trim
• 19, 20 & 22-inch alloy wheels

Lincoln's Aviator complements respectable crash-test scores with good active safety features and better safety options- The Car Connection

The Lincoln Aviator does extremely well when it comes to safety ratings. The SUV gets a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA which is pretty impressive. Moreover, it is also the IIHS’ ‘2020 Top Safety Pick’ which is enough to prove that this SUV will keep its passengers safe and protected. It received top ratings in all crash tests and its headlights were also rated 'Good'. 

To boost the safety quotient even further, the Aviator comes equipped with a long list of standard safety features. A Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Plus package is available only for the Reserve trim that adds remaining safety features to the list. This package can be bought for $2,500. The Aviator also comes with eight airbags for further protection of passengers. The safety features include:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Automatic emergency braking
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Evasive steering assist
• Reverse brake assist
• Adaptive cruise control w/ traffic jam assist
• Lane centering
• Stop & go traffic sign recognition
• Active park assist plus
• Rearview camera
• Front & rear parking sensors
• Forward collision warning
• Pedestrian detection
• Driver drowsiness monitoring
• 360-degree parking camera
• Head-up display

2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90's engine isn't athletic as the Aviator and its towing capacity is also low but boasts the best fuel economy in this competition. The XC90's interior feels more luxurious and one of the best in the class. Moreover, its cargo volume is also the best in the class. The XC90 also won the Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS, making it the safest option in this segment. 

2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Cadillac XT6 

Being the homegrown rival of the Aviator, the Cadillac XT6 is one of the least powerful SUVs in its segment. Its tow ratings are the least but its fuel economy is average like the Aviator. Inside, the passenger space, cargo capacity, and luxury levels are equivalent to the Aviator. Besides winning the Top Safety Pick+ award, the XT6 hosts more safety features than the Aviator. 

2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Audi Q7

Due to its high luxury levels, the Audi Q7 is priced higher than the Aviator. Its engine may be less powerful but it delivers a smooth ride and agile handling. Also, its towing capacity is greater however, it is less efficient than the Aviator. The Q7's cabin is arguably more luxurious and feature-filled but it loses points in terms of cargo space. The Q7 also offers a wide array of safety techs. 

The all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator pretty much ticks all the boxes right for what one would want from a 7-seater luxury SUV. It has the best power and performance in the segment. It comes with a long list of safety features and it is also priced lower than some of its arch-rivals. Yes, it does have a few downsides like not having the best handling and the fuel economy is also average but those factors can be ignored and sacrificed for everything else that the SUV has got on board. If you’re an American patriot and hunting for a new SUV in this segment with a competitive price, then the 2020 Aviator should certainly be on top of your list.

2020 Lincoln Aviator FAQs

Is the Lincoln Aviator worth the money?

The Lincoln Aviator is a good choice in its segment. It has a strong and powerful powertrain and its cabin uses top-notch materials with great fit and finish. It also has low ownership costs with great safety ratings. 

Is the Lincoln Aviator 7-seater?

Yes, the Lincoln Aviator has a maximum seating capacity of seven. 

What are the trim levels of the Lincoln Aviator?

The Lincoln Aviator comes in 3 trims- Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. 

 How much will the 2020 Lincoln Aviator cost?

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator has a price range between $51,100 and $77,695. 

How many pounds can a Lincoln Navigator tow?

The Lincoln Navigator can tow up to 6,700 pounds.