2026 Lincoln Aviator Review, Pricing, and Specs

Car and Driver

16-06-2025

Overview
Positioned just below the full-size Navigator in the Lincoln lineup, the 2026 Aviator three-row SUV offers a modern take on the brand's luxury legacy. The suspension tune hews to the comfort side of the equation, the contemporary interior is plush, and the 400-hp turbo V-6 engine has more than enough oomph to hustle in town or on the highway. Though all Aviators exude an upscale vibe, the Black Label model aims even higher with premium materials and bespoke design choices, and elevated buyer perks including enhanced complimentary maintenance. Though the Aviator may not carry the same curbside swagger as some European rivals, it delivers similar levels of luxury through a distinctly American lens.
What's New for 2026?
2026 updates include hands-free open-on-approach functionality for the power liftgate and automatic lane change capability for the Blue Cruise 1.5–equipped models. The connectivity package now includes four years of Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity as standard.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2026 Lincoln Aviator is expected to start around $61,000 and go up to $90,000 depending on the trim and options.
Premiere
$61,000 (est)
Reserve
$69,000 (est)
Black Label
$90,000 (est) 0 $25k $50k $75k $100k $125k $150k
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. Look for the 2026 Lincoln Navigator to hit showrooms in the fall of 2025.
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. 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.
0–60-MPH Times
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.
View Exterior Photos
Lincoln
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Aviator yet, but the 2025 rear-wheel-drive model earned ratings of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, with the all-wheel-drive model delivering 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 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.
View Interior Photos
Lincoln
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). The standard four-year Connectivity package now includes Wi-Fi hotspot functionality.
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, automatic lane changes, 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
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$65,710 (base price: $57,285)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
180 in3, 2956 cm3
Power
400 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
415 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.6-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Primacy A/S, 255/55R-20 110V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.1 in
Length: 199.3 in
Width: 79.6 in
Height: 69.6 in
Passenger volume: 143 ft3
Cargo volume: 18 ft3
Curb weight: 4932 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
60 mph: 5.4 sec
100 mph: 13.8 sec
140 mph: 34.5 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
¼-mile: 14.0 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (C/D est): 145 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 162 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 22 mpg
Highway range: 440 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 21/18/26 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs