2024 Lincoln Aviator Review, Pricing, and Specs

Overview

With a 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 under its hood, a tranquil cabin waiting behind its heavy doors, and a soft-riding suspension tuned to erase bumps from the road, the 2024 Aviator follows a similar blueprint as Lincoln’s famed luxury sedans from the brand’s heyday. Where it deviates from that formula is with its three-row SUV design and the fact that it’s packed with modern infotainment tech and driver-assistance features. Sitting just below the flagship Navigator in Lincoln’s lineup, the Aviator delivers a similarly posh experience in a more manageable size, putting it in contention with other mid-size luxury crossovers such as the BMW X5, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class, the Volvo XC90. While those brands may offer more cachet, the Lincoln doubles down on sheer luxury. Top-spec Black Label models pull out all the stops with high-end appointments, exclusive features, and even special ownership privileges such as pickup and delivery services for maintenance appointments and complimentary car washes.

What’s New for 2024?

Lincoln has simplified the Aviator’s offerings for 2024 by eliminating the plug-in hybrid powertrain and its associated Grand Touring trim level. That leaves the 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 as the sole engine offering this year. The only other change is the base model switching its name from Standard to Premiere. A more thorough refresh of Lincoln’s mid-size three-row SUV is due for the 2025 model year.

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. When we tested a rear-wheel drive Aviator Reserve at our test track, it whooshed to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds; with all-wheel drive, an Aviator Black Label hit 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. Several rivals are quicker still, and we recorded better times in the Audi Q7, the Genesis GV80 3.5T, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The Aviator’s ride on the standard suspension is plush, agreeable, and likely exactly what modern Lincoln buyers are expecting. There’s little driver gratification, but the Aviator is stable through corners and is relatively well-isolated from road imperfections. An optional Dynamic Handling package adds an adaptive suspension system, air springs, and variable-assist steering, but after sampling both setups we feel its benefits are negligible.

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 behind that of all-wheel-drive competitors such as the BMW X5 xDrive40i and the Volvo XC90 B5. The rear-wheel drive Aviator Reserve managed a paltry 22 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route. For more information about the Aviator’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The 2024 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 Cadillac XT6 provides. 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 to improve ride quality.

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

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 adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature

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. 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

More Features and Specs