Lincoln has long been known for its attempts to put forth luxury vehicles on par with the likes of Mercedes and BMW. While the automaker hasn’t always hit the mark, Road and Track is singing the praises of the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. So what exactly makes the Aviator stand out in the lineup of great luxury vehicles?

Specs and features

The base model Lincoln Aviator features a twin-turbo V6 engine that gets 400 hp, making it one of the most powerful standard engines for its class, according to Car and Driver. It has a fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon in the city, 26 miles per gallon on the highway, and 21 miles per gallon combined. This puts it at an average fuel economy for its class.

The Aviator has a maximum towing capacity of 6,700 pounds and comes with a standard suite of safety features known as the Co-Pilot360. Features include blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance.

Additionally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both come standard on the Aviator. This vehicle features a 10.1-inch touchscreen that is user-friendly and simple to use.

Glowing praise for the Lincoln Aviator

While Road and Track was less than impressed with the Lincoln Navigator, it gave the Lincoln Aviator high praise. It reports that the Aviator has “boundless ambition,” which sets it apart from earlier attempts by Lincoln to match its competitors. In fact, Road and Track argues that the Aviator is the first luxury SUV to come close to the Range Rover in the past seven years.

The beautiful cabin is “unquestionably one of the best on sale,” with full points for both luxury appearance and usability. The touchscreen is intuitive, and the manual controls are clearly laid out, making it functional and easy to use while driving.

Overall, Road and Track praises Lincoln for nailing the details in this model of the Aviator. While the more general aspects of Lincoln vehicles — such as the seating and interior comfort — have always been high quality, the 2020 Aviator adds many small touches that make it stand out above the rest. Base models start at just $52,195, making the Aviator a slightly more affordable luxury option.

Pros and cons of the Aviator

One of the first impressive details of the Lincoln Aviator is its smartphone-as-key capability, which immediately puts it ahead of its competitors. In fact, even Tesla only offers this feature on one of its vehicles.

Additionally, the Aviator has an adaptive suspension that allows it to adjust to the road. Generally, you’d only find this type of feature on S-Class vehicles, so it’s an extra nice touch here.

The Aviator also has a few smaller touches that set it apart. Its door chime, composed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, has a pleasant and delicate sound. Its seats are incredibly comfortable, the ride is smooth, and the cabin itself is quiet during drives. Additionally, the Aviator has an excellent audio system, better than all its competitors except the Range Rover. 

In fact, the only true con noted by Road and Track is the poor performance of the hybrid model. The Aviator Grand Touring has an engine that lags when you shift from EV mode to the gas engine, making for an unpleasant ride.

Opting for a different trim is an easy fix for this problem, and that allows you to enjoy all the Aviator’s many benefits. If you, like Road and Track, had your doubts about the Navigator, make sure you give the Aviator a try — its comfort, luxury, and gorgeous interior make for an incredible ride.