Pros

• High-end style on the outside and inside.
• Quickened the pace.
• There are electric powertrains that can be plugged in.
• Several state-of-the-art features.

Cons

• Poor real gas mileage.
• Not enough front and back view.
• Has a small amount of room for the head.
• Too much give in the steering makes the driver less sure of himself.

How do you move the Aviator? The Aviator moves straight and fast. The Aviator starts after a short wait when you request power. During testing by Invoice Pricing, our Aviator Black Label with all-wheel drive went from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5.9 seconds.

Handling and stopping could be better. It is hard to drive smoothly because the brake pedal is so soft. Also, the Aviator is unsure about its steadiness when turning because it looks so big and squishy. Another problem is that the transmission is hard to change between forward and backward and takes too long to do so. The Aviator is less fun to drive than we had hoped because of all these problems.

How well does the Aviator fit? Like other vintage Lincolns, the Aviator is big, heavy, and luxurious. Bumps are well absorbed, even if there is substantial body movement. You can whisper inside the cabin if you want because there is not much wind or road noise.

Once you get the chairs, which can be moved in many ways just right, they are comfortable. One big problem is that the seat is too small, so your hips might feel the rigid frame. Even though the seats do not heat or cool very well, the climate control system does a great job keeping the car at a comfortable temperature.

How does the inside look? Because there is little room, kids usually sit in the third row. If you have an Aviator with the extra sunroof, the second row is better and has more legroom, but there is less headroom. Tall people may have little room to move their heads up in the front.

Another problem is being seen. Short windows in the back and the front make it harder to see the road. There may be annoying glare and reflections from many of the objects in the cabin. Even though you may have to take your eyes off the road to use the multifunction buttons on the steering wheel and the buttons to change the gears, functions are usually easy to use.

How good is the tech? No matter how tech-savvy you are, the control screen is easy to use because the words are significant, and the buttons look like real ones. But it does not have some of the most remarkable new tools and is easier to use than its competitors. In the first and second rows, various ways exist to plug in devices to make them work together. Even though Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included, using one of the smartphone integration systems turns off basic voice controls. It is hard to change the radio station or update the car settings.

The Aviator has some great tools that help you drive. For example, the lane-keeping and centering device works well and fits in well. Even though adaptive cruise control will stop hard if you set it to stay close to the car in front of you, it works well in heavy traffic.

What about putting things away? Aviator has more storage below the third row than competitors. Behind the second seat, there is about average room, but many other cars can carry more. The optional air suspension on our test Aviator lowered the ride height and made it easier to load bags. For pulling behind the Aviator, it can pull 6,700 pounds. Also helpful is the strong V6 engine.

Even though the middle console box is a bit shallow, there are storage choices in all three cabin rows. Even though it is not the best, it is more than enough to store small things. The second-row seat of the Aviator is big enough to fit even large safety seats that face backward. This makes it great for family taxi services. It is easy to get to the supports for the car seats.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA ratings of 20 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway) for the all-wheel-drive Aviator and 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway) for the rear-wheel-drive model are suitable for the class. When we had the Aviator, our best tank got us just under 18 mpg, and on average, we got less than 16 mpg.

How good is the value of the Aviator? Lincoln has come a long way in terms of quality, content, and style. The inside and outside of the Aviator are both exquisite, with special care paid to the first- and second-row passengers. The Aviator stands out, but the chrome and piano black details are too much.

We doubt the Aviator’s top trim is worth much. At $84,000, our fully equipped Black Label test car felt very pricey. Go for the cheaper Reserve if you do not mind a less luxurious interior.

We like that the Aviator looks different. At the same time, it makes me think of more than one old Lincoln. This car is easiest to drive in a straight line because it lacks the stability and confidence of its European rivals when the road turns. You do not care, do you? Then you will be glad to see Lincoln make a place for itself in the high-end market.

The most expensive Black Label model may be appealing because it has a lovely interior, but the Reserve trim, which is in the middle, is almost as gorgeous and has a good mix of extras for a lot less money. On the other hand, the Grand Touring model with the hybrid engine will cost more.

Models of Lincoln Aviators

There are five trim options for the three-row Lincoln Aviator: Aviator, Reserve, Black Label, Grand Touring, and Grand Touring Black Label. The 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine in the Aviator, Reserve, and Black Label makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine gives the Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label plug-in hybrids 494 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. The SUV comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but the Aviator and Reserve trims offer all-wheel industry. The Grand Touring and Black Label models come with all-wheel drive as standard.