After sitting with my thoughts for a few weeks, I’ve got to admit, I still have no idea how I really feel about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. Do I really like it? I think so. Is it my favourite? Far from it. It had some cool features but at the same time, it’s kind of forgettable.
Lincoln has a reputation for bringing in the slightly older crowd. The Aviator is supposed to be somewhat of a step down from the monstrous Navigator, but I really doubt anyone going into a Lincoln dealership is going to settle for the Aviator if they intended on purchasing the Navigator. There’s a nearly $50k price difference between the two; one would surely know that bit of info before finding themself in a financial conundrum at a Lincoln dealer.
Regardless, Boomers or not, the Aviator has obviously had reason to stick around in this cutthroat automotive world otherwise it would’ve been discontinued, right? What makes the 2025 Lincoln Aviator so special?
Interior features in the 2025 Lincoln Aviator
- 13.2-inch infotainment screen, wireless charger, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, rear-seat LED climate screen
- Optional Luxury Package adds 30-way-adjustable massaging front seats, heated and ventilated second-row seats, 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system
In a word: comfort. In a few more words: it really is a special kind of luxurious comfort, especially for the driver.
One of the things I like most is the interior colour. Generally, we see a lot of black interiors, which I don’t mind, especially since I prefer it to the off-whites that seem to get stained easily. I prefer dark, but this brown is a nice change from black and definitely adding more personality than stained white.
The seats are super comfortable and you can adjust them in so many ways. However, like many other luxury vehicles, some seat adjustments (forward, backward, up, down, etc.) are controlled on the door, rather than at the side of the seat. Then there’s a whole bunch of other options that can be adjusted through the infotainment screen. Click the massage button — yes, there are massage seats in here and actually, they’re not that bad — and find a bunch of different modes for it, but you’ll also find a few more seat settings like narrower bolsters that hug you tighter.
The infotainment system was extremely simple to use, which was appreciated considering a lot of them are difficult these days. It can be easily and wirelessly connected to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.There’s also a wireless phone charger. If you click out of the connected phone’s screen and to the Lincoln’s home screen, you’ll find all the vehicle settings. The climate control settings are not my favouritebut that’s largely because it’s on the screen and I prefer buttons. It could definitely be worse.
I don’t usually like a head-up display but I didn’t mind the one in the Lincoln Aviator. It’s nice and big and reminds me of those universal remote controls or calculators that have the massive buttons for old people/people who need glasses.It’s so wide and can hold a lot of information, but it’s only got the stuff you really need and doesn’t look cluttered like some others.
While I didn’t particularly miss it, there’s no digital rearview mirror. I don’t often use it, but it seems like something that should now be standard in a luxury vehicle. The Revel Ultima 3D sound system sounds good; it sounds like something you’d expect in a luxury car.
The rear seats are equally as comfy as the front ones before customizing seat settings. And even the third row is actually pretty spacious, but this is a pretty big vehicle, so one would hope for adequate space in all rows. That said, of course, If you’re using that third row, cargo space is limited, but then again, what three-row SUV isn’t? It’s still got some usable space behind the third row (519 litres or 18.3 cubic feet) and when that row is folded down, there’s a lot more space back there (1,184 L/41.8 cu. ft.), which is again, pretty typical of a three-row.
While I generally like the two captain’s chairs in the second row, in the Aviator, there’s a centre console between the two. Sure, it’s easy access to heated seats and some extra storage space back there, but because of that big thing in the middle, you can’t get into the third row from in between the captain’s chairs. Therefore, the second-row seats need to be flipped down and if there’s a car seat latched into there, well that’s much easier said than done. Without something blocking the seat from folding, it’s quite simple; there’s a button on the top of the seat to click and it pushes the seat forward. However, it’s a bit heavy to get back in place — I’d suggest a quick push that’ll build the momentum you need to get it back to its spot otherwise it’s a slow and heavy move. My kids weren’t able to do it quickly, which made it automatically much more difficult for them to do it on their own.
How does the Lincoln Aviator drive?
- 3.0L V6; 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque
- 10-speed automatic transmission
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator houses a 3.0L V6 mated to a 10-speed automatic making 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. It sounds pretty powerful, but truthfully, I just found this all-wheel-drive SUV to be extremely heavy. I’m not a huge fan of the drive (note, I definitely wouldn’t mind being a passenger princess in the Aviator) because stepping on the gas pedal sort of jerks you around. It feels relatively heavy to turn and maneuver. That said, it’ll probably just take some time getting used to it; as Elle Alder and Clayton Seams summed up perfectly when they drove the Aviator in 2022: “stopping anything less than proactively is a reminder of the tremendous momentum that the Aviator carries.”
For something this size, it was actually pretty easy to park, even in our small-ish townhouse garage. A great backup camera helps, but the downside to a small garage and barely-able-to-fit SUV is that you distinctly notice the absence of sliding doors (for more van-splaining, see this comparison). The doors can’t open wide enough for my kids to squish in with their backpacks, it’s just easier to do it all outside of the garage.
What about BlueCruise?
Ford’s BlueCruise comes standard in the two trims of the Lincoln Aviator. It’s pretty great, but truthfully, not initially as confidence-inspiring as GM’s SuperCruise — or maybe it’s just that I’ve used Super more often than Blue. Where SuperCruise sees a lane change and makes it for you, BlueCruise sees the available lane change and notes it on the dash to let you agree to the lane change or not. If you agree, then it’ll lane change on its own. However, where it excels is on local roads, since SuperCruise can only be used on certain parts of certain highways. I found BlueCruise became more likable the more I used it, and even a little simpler than SuperCruise, in a good way. I think to get a proper gauge of which system is easier to use and which feels safer for everyday use, I’d have to use them back-to-back.
How fuel efficient is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
- City/Highway/Combined 13.8 / 9.5 / 11.9 L/100 km
- Observed 13.8 L/100 km combined in city/highway driving
It’s not. The Aviator is rated to get an average of 11.9 L/100 km, 13.8 city and 9.5 highway. During my time with the SUV, I saw 13.8 L/100 km in combined highway and city driving. Of course, being a luxury vehicle, it’ll require premium fuel, and since there is no electrified variant in the Aviator lineup, you’ll be spending quite a bit at the gas pumps.
How much is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator in Canada?
- For 2025, the Lincoln Aviator starts at $76,000
According to the pricing sheet for the tested Aviator Reserve, the base price is $80,100, but this one had a whole bunch of options totalling an additional $16,050. While features such as BlueCruise, a panoramic sunroof, heated/cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad and the Revel Ultima 3D sound system are standard in the base price, you’ll need to add $750 for that rear console (that I didn’t want anyway). There’s a $7,000 Luxury Package added to the tester, which includes heated/cooled seats for the second-row passengers and a few more speakers to amp up that sound system. Also tacked on were the $3,500 Jet Appearance Package and $3,500 Dynamic Handling Package. When all is said and done, the total price of the tested 2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve was $98,545, which includes the $2,395 destination fee.
What competes with the Lincoln Aviator?
If you’re truly considering the Lincoln Aviator, I assume you really want to be in a Lincoln, but there are quite a few competitors for this segment. Before getting into the luxury vehicles, I’d recommend taking a look at the Mazda CX-90. It is just as premium as some of the luxury offerings; it’s comfy and it’s a great drive with potential fuel savings if you opt for the PHEV. It‘s a good option if you’re looking for something fancy, but maybe not necessarily a BMW or Mercedes.
If a luxury brand is what’s important to you, then there’s the BMW X7 or the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but those start at fairly higher price points. If you’re looking for some reliability points, there’s the Acura MDX or Lexus TX 350. There’s also the Infiniti QX60, Cadillac XT6, Volvo XC90, as well as the, in my opinion, the awesome Genesis GV80 we recently tested. With all those options in the segment, I don’t know if the Lincoln Aviator is at the top of many shopping lists.
I’m not completely sold on the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. It definitely has some really great features and a comfortable ride. It’s a good SUV, but there’s no available electrification (yet) for the Aviator, the pricing structure could use some work, and there’s nothing that really and truly stands out above other luxury vehicles.
Check out the latest Lincoln Aviator model. Click here for more Millennial Mom’s Reviews.
Pros
✔ BlueCruise works well
✔ Great sound system
✔ Comfortable for passengers
Cons
✘ Heavy
✘ Lots of pricey packages
✘ Lots of competition
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