2022 Lincoln Aviator Review

Name: 2022 Lincoln Aviator Review
Brand: Lincoln

Price Range: $33,998 - $56,000

Lincoln Aviator Black Label 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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The 2022 Lincoln Aviator provides an upscale interior design, a comfortable ride quality and strong acceleration. Other midsize three-row luxury SUVs are more poised when going around turns, but overall we like how the Aviator offers shoppers something a little different.

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Reserve 4dr SUV
MSRP: $42,000
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Black Label Grand Touring Plug-In Hybrid 4dr SUV
MSRP: $42,200
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Reserve 4dr SUV
MSRP: $40,998
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Lincoln Aviator types

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Plug-in Hybrid

2022 Lincoln Aviator Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Upscale design inside and out
Quick acceleration
Lots of advanced features
Available plug-in hybrid powertrain

Cons

Doesn't have an abundance of headroom
Overly soft handling saps driver confidence
Subpar visibility to the front and rear
Underwhelming real-world fuel economy

What's new

Minor changes to standard and optional equipment
Part of the second Aviator generation introduced for 2020

Overview

The 2022 Lincoln Aviator is a midsize three-row luxury SUV that slots between the full-size Navigator and the two-row Nautilus. The seven-seat Aviator made its return in 2020 after an absence of several years, with an all-new design, powertrains, in-car tech and advanced driver aids. It quickly became one of our favorite vehicles in the segment. It has a look and feel you won't find anywhere else in the class. The cabin is comfortable and extremely well appointed, with lots of premium touches that make it stand out in a competitive class. We also like the powerful turbocharged engine and the available plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lincoln Aviator 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.71 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$215/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

There are no significant changes for 2022 outside of a few more standard features on the Reserve and Grand Touring models and some option package tweaks. Without any major updates to the Aviator, the Audi Q7 remains our pick in this class, but we think the Aviator is better than many rivals, including the Land Rover Discovery, Lexus RX 350L and Cadillac XT6. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full analysis of the Aviator's performance, comfort and more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.7

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7/10

How does the Aviator drive? The Aviator is quick in a straight line. While there's a slight delay when you ask it for power, the Aviator really gets going after that. In Edmunds' testing, our all-wheel-drive Aviator Black Label covered 0-60 mph in a quick 5.9 seconds.

Braking and handling are less exemplary. The brake pedal is overly soft, making smooth control difficult. The Aviator also feels big and wallowy when you're driving around turns and doesn't give you much confidence in its stability. Another problem is the transmission's clunky and slow transition between forward and reverse. All of these issues combine to make driving the Aviator less pleasing than we expected.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Aviator? The Aviator reminds us a bit of Lincoln models of old: It's big, heavy and cushy. Bumps are absorbed nicely, although there can be a bit of residual body motion. Wind and traffic noise is minimal, so you can have a quiet conversation in the cabin if you want.

The highly adjustable seats are quite comfortable once you've managed to dial them in. One notable demerit: The seat is a bit narrow, so you may feel the hard frame on your hips. As for the climate control system, it does a good job of regulating cabin temperature, though the seat heating and cooling are a bit weak.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The third row is pretty much a kids-only affair; there's just not much legroom back there. The second row is better and has a lot of legroom, but headroom is a bit limited if you have an Aviator with the optional sunroof. Up front, headroom can be tight for tall adults.

Visibility is another concern. The windshield and rear window are short, blocking some of your view of the road. There are also a lot of surfaces around the cabin that can cause distracting glare and reflections. As for the controls, they're generally easy to use, though pushing the transmission shift buttons and the multifunction buttons on the steering wheel can require taking your eyes off the road.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The infotainment screen has large text and virtual buttons, making it friendly no matter your comfort level with technology. However, it's a less sophisticated system than some competitors and lacks some of the coolest new features. For device integration, the first two rows have plenty of options for plugging in devices. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, but using one of the smartphone integration systems locks you out of basic voice controls and creates annoyances with things such as adjusting vehicle settings or switching radio stations.

The Aviator's driver aids are quite good. The lane keeping and centering system works well and isn't overly noticeable, for instance. Adaptive cruise is smooth in heavy traffic, although it will brake aggressively if you set it to follow the vehicle ahead closely.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The Aviator has an edge over competitors for storage behind the third row. Space behind the second row is average, and many competitors offer more maximum cargo volume. Our Aviator test vehicle had the optional air suspension, which you can use to lower the ride height and make it easier to load cargo. If you want to tow, the Aviator offers a solid 6,700 pounds of max towing capacity. The strong V6 engine helps out too.

Inside the cabin, all three rows offer a handful of useful storage options, though the center console box is a bit shallow. Small-item storage isn't class-leading, but it is certainly sufficient. For family taxi duty, the Aviator's second-row seat is roomy enough to install even bulky rear-facing safety seats. The car seat anchors are easy to access.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates of 20 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway) for the all-wheel-drive Aviator and 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway) for the rear-wheel-drive model are acceptable for the class. But in our time with the Aviator, our best tank only returned 18 mpg, and our overall average was under 16 mpg.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Aviator a good value? Lincoln has come a long way in terms of design, content and quality. The Aviator looks and feels luxurious inside and out, with lots of thought put into making sure the first- and second-row passengers have a premium experience. The chrome and piano black trims are a bit chintzy, but other than that the Aviator offers something special.

We do question the value of the Aviator at its highest trim level. Our loaded Black Label test vehicle felt distinctly overpriced at $84,000. If you can live with a less luxe interior, go with the more competitively priced Reserve.

Wildcard

8/10

The Aviator looks distinctive, which we like. At the same time, it reminds us a bit of Lincoln models of days gone by. This vehicle is best driven in a straight line since it lacks the poise and confidence of European competitors when the road gets twisty. Don't care? Then you'll just be pleased to see Lincoln staking out a distinctive luxury personality.

Which Aviator does Edmunds recommend?

If you're going with the gas model, we suggest stepping up to the Reserve trim level for its ample feature content and strong value. If you're interested in the more powerful hybrid version, stick with the Grand Touring trim. Both include a good number of standard features and offer a more comfortable and well-appointed interior than the base Aviator.

Compare 2022 Lincoln Aviator trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2022 Lincoln Aviator models

The 2022 Lincoln Aviator is available in five trim levels: Standard, Reserve, Black Label, Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label. The Standard, Reserve and Black Label models all use a 3.0-liter V6 engine (400 horsepower, 415 lb-ft of torque). Stepping up to the Grand Touring uses a 3.0-liter V6 hybrid engine (494 hp, 630 lb-ft). Rear-wheel drive is standard with the gas model, but all-wheel drive is available and is standard on hybrid Aviators.

Standard
A generous starting package that includes:

LED headlights
Roof rails
Power liftgate
19-inch alloy wheels
Keyless ignition and push-button start
35/30/35-split second-row bench seat
50/50-split power-folding third-row seat
Digital instrument cluster
Power-adjustable front seats with heating
Tri-zone automatic climate control
10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot

Standard safety equipment includes:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Aviator back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Reserve
Better equipped than the base version thanks to:

Adaptive suspension (improves ride comfort and handling; requires 22-inch wheels or AWD)
20-inch wheels
Power-adjustable steering wheel
Premium leather upholstery
Second-row captain's chairs (bench seat is optional)
14-speaker sound system
Quad-zone automatic climate control
Ambient interior lighting
Panoramic sunroof
Head-up display
Phone as a key capability
Hands-free liftgate
Wireless smartphone charging pad
360-degree surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the Aviator and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

There are a variety of optional packages for the Reserve, though Lincoln bundles most of them together under the Reserve I and Reserve II group packages. They include:

Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus

Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)

Elements Package Plus

Heated and ventilated front and second-row seats
Heated steering wheel
Heated windshield wipers

Luxury package

Upgraded 30-way power-adjustable front seats
28-speaker premium audio system
Rear door sunshades

Dynamic Handling package

Adaptive air-ride suspension (can raise or lower the ride height of the vehicle)

Black Label
A well-equipped model that adds optional features and packages as standard such as:

22-inch wheels
All-wheel drive
Turn-adaptive headlights
Soft-close doors
Convenience package
Elements package
Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus package
Luxury package
Access to Lincoln's Black Label services that include premium maintenance, pickup and delivery for service, points program that can be redeemed for exclusive offers and deals

Grand Touring
The first of the powerful hybrid models. It's equipped like the Reserve but has:

Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 hybrid engine (494 hp, 630 lb-ft)
Standard all-wheel drive

Black Label Grand Touring
The top dog in the Aviator lineup. Fully loaded, it applies the Black Label's features to the Grand Touring and comes with nearly every feature as standard.

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Lincoln Aviator Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.5

55 reviews

5(49%)

4(9%)

3(7%)

2(9%)

1(26%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

So Far We're Very impressed

TXCrashman, 11/19/2021

2022 Lincoln Aviator Reserve 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

We moved from a Lexus RX350 to the 2022 Aviator Reserve and are pleasantly surprised. The ride and technology blow away the RX. The messaging seats are great for longer trips. It really helps if you have a bad back, which I do. We have had our Aviator now for 7 weeks and have driven 1,800 miles without any issues except for 3-4 occasions when the Sirius radio has not reconnected after a …

Fatal flaw

Loveditbutleftit, 07/16/2021

2021 Lincoln Aviator Reserve 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

I drove my Aviator Reserve for 18 months. Love the ride, the trim, and the electronics. In every regard it is a luxury vehicle and very well thought out. But... It has a fatal flaw that, in the end, drove me to trade it in. Specifically, the door opening mechanism on the inside of each door is electric. It depends on electrical components inside each door and on the overall health of …

Awesome Ride

espy1949, 02/23/2022

2022 Lincoln Aviator Reserve 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

hi all, the aviator is a dream to drive my previous car was a jaguar fpace. Nice car but the lincoln has it beat the aviator is quiet, comfortable roomy and not too bad on fuel. i did a 200 mile all highway run and got 27.6 mpg at highway speed. my only complaint is the exterior fit and finish which is no big deal

Burgundy beauty

JoeM, 07/09/2022

2022 Lincoln Aviator Reserve 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

I’ve driven my 2022 Aviator for about four months now with no repairs needed. Very quiet, nice ride, comfortable seats and right at 20 MPG combined mileage. I’m very satisfied with this purchase. The Aviator now has about 18,000 miles. A few thousand miles ago I got an engine warning light on the dash. The dealer replaced something having to do with the thermostat. Other than that, the …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Lincoln Aviator, so we've included reviews for other years of the Aviator since its last redesign.

See all 55 reviews of the Lincoln Aviator

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2022 Aviator Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$51,780
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$215/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Aviator models:

Evasive Steering Assist: Steers the vehicle out of harm's way if an impending collision is detected and you do not take sufficient action.
Reverse Brake Assist: Applies the brakes when the car is reversing if sensors indicate that the car is about to collide with an obstacle behind it.
Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Warns you of obstacles in the road ahead and applies the brakes automatically if you don't react quickly enough.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2022 Lincoln Aviator Review

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2022 Lincoln Aviator Review

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