2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve Review

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator has been refreshed after five years on the market.

Along with a few cosmetic updates, the existing twin-turbocharged V6 is now the only engine offered; the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version is no longer available. New features include standard hands-free highway driving assistance, and a Google-backed infotainment interface. At its core, the Aviator is still an understated but solid choice with plenty of practicality and driving satisfaction.

Styling: 7/10

With only a subtly revised fascia, the exterior updates are easy to miss. Like its other, newer siblings in the Lincoln lineup, the headlights help to emphasize a more prominent grille. The optional Jet appearance package ($3,500) replaces most of the brightwork with black accents, including the badges, window trim, and roof rails.

Inside, the minor changes consist of climate controls that are now integrated within the touchscreen, the relocation of the ignition button next to the gear selection buttons, and a reshaped dash to accommodate an upgraded instrument display. Overall, it’s still a restrained look — like a well-tailored suit that can be worn anywhere.

Features: 9/10

Standard features for the Aviator Reserve trim include LED ambient lighting (with a light-up grille badge), a panoramic sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, power-folding third-row seats, 28-speaker stereo, and wireless phone charging. That’s in addition to the subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active noise cancellation, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats that come in the Premiere trim.

Meanwhile, optional extras added to this tester include black wheels (part of the Jet appearance package), as well as the Dynamic Handling package ($3,500) that’s a fancy way to describe air suspension. It also featured an $8,650 upgrade of 30-way adjustable front seats with massage settings and ventilated second-row seats, as well as a second-row centre console ($725) and fancy red paint ($950).

Safety: 9/10

Forward collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, evasive steering assist, blind spot-monitoring, lane-keeping assist, reverse braking assist, and automatic high-beam control are all standard equipment. The "adaptive pixel" LED headlights use a camera to detect road conditions ahead and actively adjust the beam pattern to suit the road ahead. 

Lincoln's so-called BlueCruise system is one of the more advanced semi-autonomous driver aids on the market, with hands-free operation possible on roads mapped in the system's database. BlueCruise can automatically execute lane changes and better manage gaps between vehicles compared to conventional adaptive cruise control. A four-year subscription is included, and more mapped roads are added regularly.

More basically, the Aviator’s second-row child seat anchors could be tough to use with thicker child connectors. On the plus side, there are lower anchors and top tethers for all second- and third-row seats in six-passenger Aviators.

User-Friendliness: 7/10

The Lincoln Aviator does moderately well for user-friendliness with its relatively simplistic luxury. The dashboard and centre console work to wrap around the driver without making it feel claustrophobic. Most functions are managed through the 13.2-inch touchscreen, with a small volume knob and a cluster of buttons for functions like the parking sensors and cameras, ignition stop-start, and defrost. Although the Android-based infotainment system is responsive and easy to use, more hard buttons would be beneficial for less distracting ergonomics.

The steering wheel controls feature a joystick on each side of the wheel. Their functions can change context depending on the selected menu in the instrument display and feel clumsier than conventional directional pads. Shifting between park, reverse, neutral, and drive is done using four buttons on the dashboard, and there isn’t much delineation to prevent picking the wrong setting at a glance.

Practicality: 9/10

With seating for six, the Aviator Reserve trades passenger capacity for second-row captain’s chairs with an optional full centre console. The second row boasts plenty of legroom for adults, but the first row's large seatback eats into available space for child seats. Front-seat occupants may need to slide forward to accommodate rear-facing child seats or to prevent forward-facing kids from kicking the chairs in front of them. An emphasis on first- and second-row space means third-row legroom is at a premium unless the second-row is slid forward.

Cargo space is good for an SUV this size, and the Aviator has more volume than the Genesis GV80 or Volvo XC90. When folding the second and third rows, special care must be taken to prevent damage to the centre console between the captain's chairs.

Comfort: 8/10

With a decidedly Mid-Century Modern look, the cabin exudes class. It's much less sterile looking than most competitors out of Europe and pays homage to Lincolns from the 1950s and ‘60s. This golden era of design was when materials were almost exclusively leather, metal, or wood, and today's Aviator hides lower-cost plastics well.

With the expensive 201A upgrade package, the front seats feature 30-way power adjustability with massage. They offer excellent comfort and reduced fatigue on long drives, but it does take some time to get to the perfect seating position. Both first- and second-row occupants get heated and ventilated seats, and there’s four-zone automatic climate control.

With the optional air suspension, handling is emphasized more than comfort. While other systems have a cloud-like quality, the Aviator's ride is firmer without being too harsh. When parked, the system can lower the vehicle to help make ingress and egress easier.

Power: 8/10

With 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque on tap out of its twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6, this Lincoln can get up to speed in a hurry despite a relatively portly 2,254-kg (4,969-lb) curb weight. While many engines of this type have tons of low-end torque and run out of breath before hitting redline, this one is more balanced, with ample enthusiasm in any part of the rev range. In practice, this translates to a sportier experience when merging and passing. Towing capacity is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).

Driving Feel: 8/10

Above all else, the 2025 Aviator’s strongest suit is its powertrain. Power delivery is linear and responds almost like a naturally aspirated engine would. After a number of years of less-than-stellar refinement, Lincoln has finally figured out the calibration of the 10-speed automatic transmission, which offers smooth shifts without excessive gear hunting. Spirited driving is quiet and effortless, with just enough of a satisfying exhaust note and strong pull in the mid-to-upper part of the rev range.

The air suspension helps with high-speed stability. Low-speed manoeuvrability and turning radius are average for a vehicle of this size. The Aviator has five drive modes to suit all conditions: normal, conserve (eco), excite (sport), slippery (rain or snow), and deep (off-road). Normal mode is well-balanced, offers the best of all worlds, and almost negates the need for the conserve or excite modes. Slippery and deep settings alter throttle response and all-wheel drive system settings to optimize control when the going gets tough.

Fuel Economy: 6/10

The Aviator's turbocharged V6 places more emphasis on power and performance rather than fuel economy. A city consumption rating of 13.8 L/100 km isn't great, although its rating of 9.5 on the highway is more respectable. Over a week of mixed cold-weather driving, the real-world economy was 12.5 L/100 km. While Lincoln recommends at least 91-octane fuel for optimal performance, regular-grade gas is acceptable. Relative to its peers, the Lexus TX hybrid uses 25 per cent less gas but lacks performance and requires premium fuel. The Aviator is also thirstier than the Volvo XC90 but does marginally better than the Genesis GV80 and Acura MDX Type S. 

Value: 7/10

A starting price hovering around $80,000 for the Aviator makes it a decent value for an premium SUV this size, but its optional packages bump up the sticker price in a hurry. This unit’s as-tested price of $98,170 puts it above the Acura MDX Type S and Lexus TX 500h, and is on par with the Volvo XC90 PHEV and top-of-the-line Genesis GV80.

The Verdict

The refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator is still a good choice in the segment. It’s kept its best elements, including a sweet twin-turbo V6, comfortable seating, and a restrained classy mid-century retro look. It strikes a good balance of comfort and handling and doesn't compromise on practicality, while hands-free driver assistance and Google infotainment help it keep up with the competition even after several years on the market.