Description Of The Car

USED CAR REVIEW Lincoln Aviator

The Lincoln Aviator is the luxury divisions mid-size sport-utility vehicle. Based on the Ford Explorer, the Aviator combines a rugged, truck-based platform with a smooth luxury car ride. Properly equipped, Aviator can tow up to 7,300 pounds, significantly more than most imported SUVs in its size class.

The Aviators mission is to deliver the style of the Lincoln Navigator in a smaller, more manageable, and less expensive package. Aviator lists for about $8,700 less than Navigator. Aviator is also priced lower than most V8-powered luxury sport-utilities. Aviator costs less than a Lexus GX 470, Mercedes-Benz ML 500, Infiniti FX45, and less than the V8 versions of the Cadillac SRX and Volkswagen Touareg. Aviator is also priced just below the six-cylinder BMW X5 3.0.




When Lincoln rolled out the Navigator in 1998 it was met with more than a few snickers and furrowed brows. Sure, some of its famed Continentals were big enough to qualify for their own ZIP codes, but a full-size Lincoln truck?

Traditionalists fears of brand dissipation and public ridicule were quickly set aside when the Navigator began racking up huge sales numbers right out of the gate. Everyone from corporate executives to professional athletes flocked to the big Lincoln, attracted by its endless amenities and commanding presence. Its popularity was so strong that even Cadillac was forced into building a full-size luxury sport-ute of its own.

With the Navigator firmly entrenched in the luxury sport-utility scene (a redesigned version debuted for 2003), Lincoln decided to expand the franchise. This time, however, it would be a smaller, more agile and less expensive sport-ute — an SUV for those who want all the luxury but dont need the biggest vehicle on the block. Thus, the Aviator was born.

Model Lineup

Lincoln Aviator is available with a choice of rear-wheel drive ($39,940) or all-wheel-drive ($42,890). All models come with Fords 4.6-liter V8 engine, rated at 302 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque. All come with a five-speed automatic.

Most luxuries are standard: leather upholstery; six-way power front seats with two memory settings for the driver; AM/FM/CD/cassette audio with steering wheel-mounted controls; dual-zone electronic climate control plus auxiliary climate controls for the rear-seat passengers; heated power-adjustable side mirrors with built-in puddle lamps and turn-signal indicators; power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals; and a back-up obstacle detection system.
The Premium Preferred Equipment Group ($2,465 with 2WD, $2,690 with 4WD) adds an audiophile stereo with six-disc CD changer, seven-spoke machined aluminum wheels, high-intensity-discharge headlamps, and heated and cooled driver and passenger seats. (Lincoln sometimes refers to this as the Ultimate Preferred Equipment Group.)

Safety features include anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist, dual-stage frontal air bags, Safety Canopy airbags for protection in side impacts and rollovers, front safety belts with pre-tensioners and load-limiting retractors, three-point lap and shoulder belts for all seating positions, childproof rear-door locks, and LATCH universal child safety seat latches.

AdvanceTrac electronic stability control with Roll Stability Control is optional ($860) for Aviator 2WD models. The system will be available for Aviator AWD models late in the model year.
Other options include a power glass sunroof ($1,595), DVD-based navigation system with touch screen and in-dash six-disc CD changer ($2,495), rear-seat DVD entertainment ($1,295), roof rail crossbars ($60), Class III trailer package ($295), and chrome wheels ($795). A 40/20/40 split second-row bench seat can be substituted for the standard second-row bucket seats at no charge.

Interior Features

The Lincoln Aviators interior is stunning, and every bit as elegant as a luxury sedans. The two-tone leather in cream (Light Parchment) and charcoal gray (Espresso) with American walnut burl wood trim is quite attractive. The interior also comes in a two-tone Medium and Dark Ash.
The most distinctive touch in the interior is the pewter-colored satin-nickel finish used on the center dashboard and shifter surround. Another distinguishing feature is a small panel that pulls down to hide the audio system. It is finished in the same satin-nickel color. You wont forget what you are driving when you close it, as its cover spells out Lincoln. The clock in the center of the dash, with delicate gold hands and numbers, resembles an expensive watch. This clock design is becoming a signature feature in Lincolns.



The 1961 Lincoln Continental was the inspiration for the Aviators symmetrical instrument panel. Switches and controls, either rectangular toggles or rotary dials, are backlit with white LED lighting. The steering wheel trimmed in wood and leather includes controls for audio and climate. Every surface throughout the Aviator is attractive to the eye and inviting to the touch.

There are two configurations available for the second row: a 40/20/40 split bench seat or individual captains chairs with a center console. We found the captains chairs in our test vehicle a little short on legroom, but otherwise comfortable. (Specs show second-row legroom in the Aviator is equal to the GX 470 and an inch shy of the MDX.) An optional DVD rear entertainment system will be available as a late-year addition, but until then, rear-seat passengers can spend time fiddling with their very own climate controls located at the rear of the front-seat center console.

After spending several days behind the wheel, we were impressed with the Aviators overall feel and performance. More than just an Explorer dress-up job, the Aviator delivers a plush ride and a quiet, comfortable cabin that should make it a strong player in the midsize luxury SUV segment. Dont go throwing away those Lexus brochures just yet, but dont be surprised if you drive this newest Lincoln and come away thinking that maybe its finally time to buy American again.

Driving Impressions

The Lincoln Aviator offers a smooth, sophisticated ride. It isnt bouncy like most truck-based sport-utilities, a benefit of its sophisticated independent rear suspension. It rides more smoothly than the Mercury Mountaineer and Ford Explorer.

Fords tried-and-true 4.6-liter V8 engine delivers plenty of power and makes it possible, with an optional package, to tow up to 7,300 pounds. Our only criticism, which is often the case with Ford engines, is that it roars at start up and under hard acceleration. Beyond those conditions, the Aviator delivered a relatively quiet ride.

Lincoln has made vast improvements in its steering systems, and the Aviator is a good example. Aviators rack-and-pinion steering delivers a solid on-center feel. In contrast to previous Ford sport-utilities, most notably the Navigator, steering the Aviator was a relaxed experience, requiring few corrections to keep on course. The speed-sensitive steering assist makes low-speed parking lot maneuvers and tooling around the neighborhood effortless. Yet the Aviator feels stable at highway speeds. Steering transitions can be accomplished so seamlessly your passengers will hardly feel them.

Aviator is equipped with larger four-wheel disc brakes than Explorer or Mountaineer. The Lincoln also comes equipped with ABS (anti-lock brakes) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). Slam on the brakes and the Aviator comes to a predictable and uneventful stop. ABS lets the driver maintain steering control in a panic stop, while EBD balances the braking force between front and rear wheels dynamically to reduce stopping distances.

The optional AdvanceTrac electronic stability control system ($860) monitors the position of the Aviators steering wheel, the speed the wheels and tires are turning, the rate at which the vehicle is turning (yaw), and how hard it is cornering (lateral acceleration). If AdvanceTrac decides that the Aviator isnt doing what the driver intends, the system applies the brakes at one or more wheels to correct the vehicles path. An example of this would be entering a corner too fast, then hitting a patch of wet leaves halfway through the turn; the system would detect the front tires have lost grip and would compensate to try to keep the vehicle from sliding off the edge of the road. The driver need only keep her cool and continue steering (and looking) in the direction she wants to go.



Overall, the interior is a well-designed, attractive-looking package that lives up to the luxury sport-ute moniker, but there are a few minor areas that could stand some improvement. Although the leather and wood trim are both top quality, the Aviators satin-finished plastic trim still lacks the high-quality look and feel exhibited by its Lexus, BMW and Mercedes counterparts. We could also do without the center console-mounted window switches, and the door handles would be easier to find in the dark if they were placed higher up on the door.