2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator will be offered in three trim levels excluding the plug-in hybrid models. The base price for the SUV will start at $53,340 where the SUV will get an RWD layout. In terms of features, the SUV gets a long list that includes features such as tri-zone automatic climate control, a power-operated liftgate, 19-inch wheels, driver's seat memory settings, and power-folding third-row seats with 50/50-split capability. The mid-level Reserve trim further adds ambient interior lighting, hands-free operation for the power liftgate, power-adjustable steering column, wireless device charging pad, and a 360-degree camera system, and these features absolutely justify the five grand premium the brand asks for over the base model. The top-end Black Label trim is offered only in the AWD layout and gets additional features such as soft-closing doors, a special illumination package, big 22-inch wheels, and a heads-up display among a few others.

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The base trim would suffice for most shoppers since the SUV gets several optional packages too. Furthermore, AWD is also available right from the base trim as well. However, to have access to more convenience and creature-comfort features, the mid-level Reserve trim would be a better choice.

Release Date

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator was released back in April 2022 and is available for purchase through the dealerships.

Vehicles placed within the luxury segments used to focus less on the fuel efficiency part and more on the luxury part. However, the scenario has taken a turn for the better and the fuel economy numbers have also gone up considerably as well. The 2023 Lincoln Aviator returns an average of 18mpg within the city limits while highway driving amps up the number to 26mpg. The combined mileage is rated at 21mpg. Even though the numbers might seem decent at the most, these are commendable considering the amount of power the vehicle makes and the curb weight it has. Driving range numbers are decent too with a sizable 20.2-gallon gasoline tank.

The Audi Q7 has similar city mileage to the Aviator but the lowest highway EPA rating among the rivals here. However, it still manages to cover in excess of 400 miles within the cities on a single tank full of gasoline. The Volvo XC90 disappoints the most since it gets the smallest powertrain here but doesn’t even touch 20mpg of average mileage in the cities. Also, it gets the smallest gas tank at only 18.8 gallons. The Cadillac XT6 is almost similar to the Aviator in terms of EPA ratings and beats the latter with its driving range numbers courtesy of its huge 22-gallon gas tank.

The interior of the 2023 Lincoln Aviator is one of the best that there is among American luxury SUVs. It might not be flashy and sharp-styled as the German SUVs’ cabins in the market, but it sure is plush. Starting with the dashboard, the design isn’t too complex and gets a dual-tone finish with sleek air-con vents. The sizable infotainment screen sits atop the middle part of the dashboard and the driver gets a fully digital information cluster. The wide center stack gets a silver metallic finish that is also followed on the dashboard as well. The gear selector stick is absent and sits within a set of manual controls for the climate settings and media controls. The front seats offer terrific comfort levels and are fully power-adjustable, also getting heating function as well. The driver’s seat also gets memory settings. The legroom is plenty on both front and 2nd-row seats while the third-row seats are best reserved for kids. The headroom is decent at the most while both the front and 2nd-row passengers might feel tight if they’re taller than average. The cabin gets a three-zone automatic climate control right from the base model and also offers ambient lighting, premium leather upholstery, and quad-zone automatic climate control as you move up the trim levels. The cargo capacity behind the third-row seats is modest at 18.3 cu-ft.

The Audi Q7 offers a cutting-edge and flashy interior with three massive screens replacing almost all the manual controls. The dashboard houses three screens, one for the driver’s instrument display, one for the infotainment display, and the smallest one for the center stack-mounted controls. The smallest screen shows a variety of information and controls for the climate settings, seat settings, and media controls. The third row of the Q7 tells a similar story to the Aviator while the front and the second-row seats offer plenty of space. Volvo went down the simplistic path while designing the latest XC90’s cabin and the result is a plush and uncluttered interior. It is almost as spacious as both the Aviator and the Q7 but lacks in terms of cargo space behind the third-row seats. The Cadillac XT6 still offers a touch retro design with analog dials and manual controls but the overall layout is user-friendly and uncluttered unlike a few other Caddys out there.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Lincoln Aviator include:

• Ambient interior lighting
• Power-adjustable and heated front seats
• Driver’s seat memory settings
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Tri-zone/quad-zone automatic climate controls
• 50/50-split, power-folding third-row seats

How intuitive is the 2023 Lincoln Aviator’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system onboard the 2023 Lincoln Aviator is a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen unit. The display is vibrant and shows crisp graphics, even under bright daylight conditions. The user interface is smooth and responsive with the menu items laid out in a user-friendly manner. The system offers standard features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Connected services, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 10-speaker audio setup. The higher trims further adds a navigation system, wireless charging pad, and a 14-speaker audio system.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Lincoln Aviator include:

• 14-speaker audio system
• Navigation system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Wireless charging pad
• 10.1-inch touchscreen display

The exterior design of the Lincoln Aviator is striking and shiny with a decent amount of chrome inserts. The front grille gets the maximum amount of chrome details and the standard LED headlamps might remind you of previous BMW headlamps minus the LED DRL rings. The front bumper has a clamshell-like design with more than a couple of sculpted lines running across it. The front bumper gets a couple of vent-like designs along with LED lights at the bottom. The side profile of the SUV remains rather simple with a sculpted character line running across the doors to the rear end. The rear end of the SUV also gets a few chrome details that look good and the long, sleek LED tail lights get a connected design. The SUV stands tall with a ground clearance of 8.5 inches.

The Audi Q7 looks absolutely outlandish when compared to most of the rivals in this segment. It has a shorter wheelbase than the Aviator but the rest of the dimensions are almost similar to the Aviator. The Volvo XC90 hasn’t received any significant design upgrades in recent years but it still looks fresh with those thor’s hammer headlamps and the stylish Volvo grille. The Cadillac XT6 looks far better than other vehicles from the brand and its sleek LED headlamps give it a distinctive yet very Cadillac-like look from the front.

Some standout exterior features include:

• 19-inch wheels
• Hands-free tailgate 
• Automatic LED headlamps
• Keyless entry
• Roof rails
• Soft close doors

The safety aspect of the Lincoln Aviator is rather strong when compared to its rivals. The 2022 Aviator scored a perfect 5-star in the NHTSA crash tests and also received a Top Safety Pick + award from the IIHS as well. The SUV gets several ADAS techs as standard such as Forward collision mitigation, Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, Lane departure mitigation, and Parking sensors. Several optional features include a Surround-view camera system, Adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and automated parking assist among other features.

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Forward collision mitigation
• Lane departure mitigation
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Automated parking assist
• Evasive steering assist
• Surround view camera system

2023 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 stands among one of the most stylish and high-tech German crossovers in the segment, and its design perfectly describes the vehicle’s sporty character. In terms of performance, the Q7 makes less power and torque than the Aviator but its standard AWD Quattro system allows it to stay level with the latter in acceleration runs. The fuel economy part is slightly better on the Aviator but the Q7 makes up for it with its bigger gas tank and more driving range numbers.

2023 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 is clearly not meant for enthusiast shoppers and its twin-charged motor is maximized for fuel economy along with relaxed driving. However, its EPA ratings aren’t too impressive, only marginally better than the Aviator’s numbers. On the inside, it feels understated when compared to the Aviator or the Q7 but for shoppers who like a simply designed cabin with all the major comfort and convenience features present, the XC90 feels at home. In terms of safety though, it still leads the pack.

2023 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Cadillac XT6

The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer anything extraordinary when put side-by-side with the Aviator and other rivals but appeals to the shoppers who love that Cadillac crest. Also, despite having a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6, that is much bigger than all the rivals present here, it performs underwhelmingly and the fuel economy numbers are mostly identical to the Aviator as well. On the inside too, the design feels retro-modern but shows its age if we compare it with the interior of the Q7 or the Aviator.

If you’re looking for a supremely comfortable and safe luxury SUV in the midsize segment, the 2023 Lincoln Aviator stands out as a shining option. It gets the performance part absolutely right and manages to offer some decent fuel economy figures too. On the inside, it simply overwhelms with the long list of standard features along with the high-tech optional features as well. Even if it disappoints slightly on the handling aspect, you simply cannot resist its posh cabin with the level of comfort it offers.