2022 Lincoln Aviator

Overview

With a stylish exterior, a plush cabin, and a pair of potent powertrains, the 2022 Lincoln Aviator offers nearly the same luxury experience as the larger Navigator, but its more compact, mid-size dimensions make it easier to live with. All models come with a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine but the plug-in hybrid Grand Touring models get an extra boost from an electric motor that brings total combined power up to 494 horsepower. The Aviator doesn't match the athleticism of rivals such as the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90. Rather, the Lincoln is all about quiet comfort; its ride is compliant and its driving demeanor relaxed. Underscoring its comfort-first persona, a host of driver-assistance tech is standard and it can be had with luxury features such as massaging seats, a 28-speaker premium stereo system, buttery leather upholstery, and more.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#12 in Best Mid-Size Luxury SUVs of 2022

1

Genesis GV80

STARTING AT: $51,295

SHOP GV80

2

Porsche Cayenne

STARTING AT: $70,350

SHOP Cayenne

3

BMW X5

STARTING AT: $61,595

SHOP X5

4

Volvo XC90

STARTING AT: $51,995

SHOP XC90

5

BMW X6

STARTING AT: $68,345

SHOP X6

12

Lincoln Aviator

STARTING AT: $52,975

SHOP Aviator

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What's New for 2022?

Lincoln has cut the price of the Aviator slightly for the 2022 model year, and a new Appearance package is now available on the base model that adds a panoramic sunroof and 20-inch wheels. The Reserve model's optional driver-assistance package now includes front, rear, and side parking sensors and has been renamed Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus. Two new colors are available: Gilded Green and Bronze Smoke. A new Jet package is offered and replaces the Aviator's exterior chrome elements for glossy black ones.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

The mid-level Reserve trim is the sweet spot in the lineup, providing all the luxury most buyers need and want without breaking the bank. Standard equipment on the Reserve trim includes four-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera system, a panoramic sunroof, and a 14-speaker sound system. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available but costs extra.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Lincoln Aviator's 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 is among the most powerful standard engines in the mid-size luxury SUV segment. The refined 3.0-liter V-6 works with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission to deliver both serene cruising and authoritative acceleration. In place of a more powerful V-8 engine as an option, Lincoln offers a plug-in-hybrid model that's known as the Aviator Grand Touring. Using the same V-6 and 10-speed transmission as the standard Aviator, the Grand Touring adds a 100-hp electric motor and a 13.6-kWh battery. The two propulsion sources combine for 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, but the refinement isn't quite up to snuff, with occasional thunks when the driveline reengages the gas engine. The battery allows the plug-in Aviator to cover about 18 miles in the Pure EV driving mode without using the gas engine, but the 100-hp motor is slow to accelerate the Aviator's heft without help from the engine. Most buyers will use one of the alternative drive modes, which rely heavily on the V-6.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA rates the rear-wheel-drive Lincoln Aviator at 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway; the all-wheel-drive model delivers 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Those numbers place the Aviator's fuel economy just slightly behind that of all-wheel-drive competitors such as the X5, the XC90, and the Audi Q7. A rear-wheel-drive nonhybrid Aviator managed a paltry 22 mpg on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route; the plug-in-hybrid all-wheel-drive Grand Touring model managed 25 mpg in the same test but managed to deliver only 15 of its estimated 21 miles of electric range before firing up its gasoline engine. For more information about the Aviator's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The 2022 Aviator is available in six- or seven-seat configurations. Buyers who opt for second-row captain's chairs will have a choice of two different center consoles between those seats, one of which allows for easier pass-through to the third row. On trips longer than a few minutes, the back row is suitable only for small children, but that compromise means there's more room for cargo with all seats in their upright position. The Lincoln offers 18 cubic feet of storage space, more than the BMW X5 and Cadillac XT6 provide. Up front, the optional Perfect Position seats offer 30-way adjustability and massaging capability. If you're willing to spend extra for it, a camera behind the windshield scans the road for potholes and other imperfections and sends instructions to the adaptive dampers in order to improve ride quality.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are all standard on the Lincoln Aviator. Compared with other manufacturers that use rotary controllers or multiple touchscreens, Lincoln's single-screen configuration and traditional climate controls are easy to learn and use. On higher trims, a smartphone's Bluetooth signal can be used to unlock and start the Aviator in place of the key. The top-end Revel Ultima 3D audio system has 28 speakers (including some in the headliner).

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

The Aviator's standard Co-Pilot360 system of driver-assistance technologies includes forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beams, and a rearview camera. The optional Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus adds adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and a self-parking system that will steer the vehicle into both parallel and perpendicular spots. For more information about the Aviator's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance
• Available lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automated parking assistance.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

With powertrain coverage that extends beyond its four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the Aviator offers a better warranty than most of its competitors. The Grand Touring plug-in hybrid's unique electric components, such as the motor and battery pack, are covered with an eight-year/100,000-mile guarantee. Buyers who spring for the full-zoot Black Label trim also receive complimentary scheduled maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for four years or 50,000 miles on Black Label models

Specifications

Specifications

2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$65,710 (base price: $57,285)

ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
180 in³, 2956 cm³
Power
400 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
415 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.6-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Primacy A/S, 255/55R-20 110V M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 199.3 in
Width: 79.6 in
Height: 69.6 in
Passenger volume: 143 ft³
Cargo volume: 18 ft³
Curb weight: 4932 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
60 mph: 5.4 sec
100 mph: 13.8 sec
140 mph: 34.5 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
¼-mile: 14.0 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (C/D est): 145 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 162 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 22 mpg
Highway range: 440 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 21/18/26 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

2020 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$88,895 (base price: $88,895)

POWERTRAIN
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter V-6, 400 hp, 415 lb-ft; permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 101 hp, 221 lb-ft; combined output, 494 hp, 630 lb-ft; 13.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack

TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.3-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season, 275/45R-21 110W M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 199.3 in
Width: 79.6 in
Height: 69.6 in
Passenger volume: 148 cu ft
Cargo volume: 18 cu ft
Curb weight: 5843 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
60 mph: 5.0 sec
100 mph: 12.7 sec
130 mph: 23.4 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.3 sec
¼-mile: 13.6 sec @ 103 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 145 mph (C/D est)

C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 23 MPGe
75-mph highway driving, hybrid mode: 23 mpg
Highway range, hybrid mode: 410 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 22/19/27 mpg
Combined gasoline+electricity: 56 MPGe

More Features and Specs