Our Opinion - 2025 Lincoln Aviator Review Instead of making the Town Car, Lincoln is now only making SUVs, so the 2025 Aviator has taken its place. The three-row, mid-size SUV is a tribute to the one that came before it. It has a strong engine, a luxurious interior, and a light suspension. Do you still find yourself attempting to decipher it? If you pay close attention to Aviators in traffic, you’ll see that livery drivers who used to like Lincoln’s Panther-platform car have quickly grown to like them, too. The Aviator, which is just below the Navigator in the Lincoln lineup, almost beats the high-end SUV when it comes to high-end features and comforts. The most luxurious trim level is the Black Label model, which comes with unique interior themes, high-end appointments, and ownership benefits that other trim levels don’t have. Even though the Lincoln image isn’t as unique as the BMW or Mercedes-Benz logos, the company’s unique take on luxury is still appealing. What's New? For 2025, Lincoln made changes to the Aviator’s style, especially to the front, where the grille and headlamps were changed. As the driver gets closer to the SUV and again when the doors are locked, and the driver turns to leave, new light strips start to flash with animations that happen one after the other. The adaptive headlamps on the Reserve and Black Label models change color based on how hard you turn and how fast you’re going. There is a new 13.2-inch touchscreen for entertainment and a 12.4-inch digital gauge panel that comes with every Aviator. The new Lincoln Digital Experience interface has Google Maps, Google’s voice helper, and other features built-in. It was made with Android Automotive and is said to be Lincoln’s fastest system yet. The black label version has a sleek new inner design idea called Invitation. You can choose to add the Special Edition package, which comes with 22-inch Ebony Black wheels, a black-painted top, and blacked-out outer trim. The company’s Blue Cruise hands-free technology is built into all Aviator models. You can also choose from a few new wheel styles and colors. Pros and Cons Pros Performance that is quick and smooth. Beautiful and luxurious decor. Driving without using your hands is now normal. Cons More high-tech stuff can be found in New Nautilus. There is a big rise in prices compared to last year. Is the look better than it was before? Engine, Transmission, and Performance One of the most potent in the medium luxury SUV class, the Lincoln Aviator’s standard engine boasts 400 horsepower. The refined 3.0-liter V-6 engine and the smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic gearbox make for a comfortable ride and quick acceleration. The basic suspension in the Aviator makes the ride smooth and easy, which is what people who buy Lincoln cars today expect. Even though the Aviator isn’t fun to drive, it’s stable when making turns and doesn’t react badly to bumps in the road. We found that the optional Dynamic Handling package, which has air springs, variable-assist steering, and an adjustable suspension system, didn’t make a big difference between the two versions. Safety The Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance system that comes standard with the Aviator has automatic high beams, blind-spot tracking, lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian recognition, and a camera for the rearview. Autonomous parking with parallel and perpendicular steering, adaptive cruise control, and a technology that reads traffic signs are all part of the optional Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus package. Those interested in the Aviator’s crash test results can find further information on the websites of the IIHS and the NHTSA. Some important safety factors are: Standard are forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Regular help staying in your lane and watching for blind spots. You can get adaptive speed control to center your car. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The Aviator has two different layouts for its seats: six and seven. There will be two options for center consoles for customers who want second-row captain’s seats. Getting to the third row from those seats is made easier by one of them. For trips longer than a few minutes, only very young children should ride in the back row. However, when everyone sits up straight, there’s more room for cargo. The Lincoln has 18 cubic feet more space for storage than the Cadillac XT6. The Perfect Position chairs, which are extra, can be adjusted in 30 different ways and can rub you. If you are ready to pay a little more, there is an image sensor behind the windshield that can find cracks and other flaws in the road. It then tells the adaptive dampers how to adjust to make the ride smoother. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA says that the Lincoln Aviator with all-wheel drive gets 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The Lincoln Aviator with rear-wheel drive gets 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. From these numbers, we can see that the Aviator uses more gas than all-wheel-drive cars like the Volvo XC90 B5 and the BMW X5 xDrive40i. Even with all-wheel drive, the Aviator Reserve only managed 22 mpg on our interstate test route. Infotainment and Connectivity It has a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, and it works with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Lincoln’s straightforward, one-screen interface and conventional climate controls are far easier to learn and use than the rotary controllers or several touchscreens found in many competing automakers. On higher trim levels, you can open and start the Aviator using the Bluetooth signal from your phone, eliminating the need for a key. The high-end Revel Ultima 3D sound system has 28 speakers, some of which are at the top. Range, Charging, and Battery Life On our test track, an Aviator Reserve with rear-wheel drive went from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, while an Aviator Black Label with all-wheel drive needed 6 seconds. We ran faster times in the Audi Q7, the Mercedes-Benz GLE450, and the Genesis GV80 3.5T, but other cars are faster. Price and How to Choose Midway through the price range, in the Reserve trim, you’ll find all the premium features that the majority of buyers desire without emptying their financial accounts. An expansive sunroof, a 14-speaker audio system, and a comprehensive 360-degree camera system are all standard features of the Reserve type. You can get all-wheel drive, but it costs more than rear-wheel drive.
