Lincoln Aviator SUV rides confidently in the middle
When it comes to siblings, the middle child always seems to get less attention.
And so it goes with the new Lincoln Aviator sport utility vehicle.
Just as the Lincoln Navigator is an upscale interpretation of the Ford Expedition, the Aviator is an upscale interpretation of the Explorer and the Mercury Mountaineer.
The Navigator’s base price ranges from $49,050 to $62,910. The Aviator starts at $39,995 and runs to $54,635.
But a slightly less luxurious Mercury Mountaineer ranges in base price from $29,950 to $40,125.
The Aviator hit dealer showrooms in November, but its sales haven’t taken flight. Executives at Lincoln parent Ford Motor Co. are concerned that buyers are either opting for the similar, yet $10,000 cheaper, Mercury Mountaineer or a more expensive Lincoln Navigator over the new Aviator.
So the question remains: Are buyers being savvy, or are they overlooking a good thing?
Although it’s true that there is much of the Lincoln Aviator in the Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln has ensured that you’re getting more for the difference in price.
Whereas the Mountaineer comes with either a six- or eight-cylinder engine, the Aviator has one engine: a 4.6-liter, 302-horsepower double-overhead-cam V-8. The Mountaineer’s 4.6-liter V-8 is a single overhead cam and churns out a respectable 240 horsepower.
Like the Mercury, the Aviator comes with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Unlike some of its car-based competition (such as the Lexus RX 330 or the Acura MDX), the Aviator uses body-on-frame construction, giving the truck a solid, tough foundation.
Unlike most truck-based SUVs, the Aviator (like the Explorer and the Mountaineer) employs a fully independent suspension. Lincoln has taken advantage of this by giving the Aviator road manners similar to that of the Lincoln LS sports sedan. It feels planted, allowing for confident maneuvering.
Body lean is minimal and very well controlled. There’s little of the ride softness one feels in the Navigator. However, the Aviator does an admirable job of soaking up bumps.
Power is quick off the line and quite substantial. The Aviator’s accelerator seems touchy upon initial acceleration, so smooth starts are hard to accomplish. But the five-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and unobtrusively.
The test vehicle came with all-wheel drive. Under normal conditions, 35% of the power goes to the front wheels, 65% to the rear. Up to 90% of the available power can be transferred to the front or rear.
Although all of this is noteworthy, most of it can be applied as well to the Aviator’s lesser siblings, the Mountaineer and Explorer.
But the Aviator is blessed with one of the finest interior designs of any American vehicle.
The dashboard looks as if it came straight from a mid-’60s Lincoln Continental. Its real walnut trim contrasts beautifully with the eggshell-colored vinyl and leather seats.
As you would expect of a Lincoln, there are many convenience features.
The front seats are heated and air-conditioned. The power adjustments help front-seat occupants find a comfortable position. Strangely, the backrest angle is adjusted manually, which seems shortsighted in a truck that starts near $40,000.
The second-row seats are short and shallow, while the third row is strictly for kids. Both second and third rows fold. The third row isn’t power activated, as on the Navigator.
Other available niceties include power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, a keyless-entry keypad on the driver’s side, running boards, an AM-FM audio system with in-dash six-CD changer, a power moon roof, dual-zone electronic automatic climate control, a DVD rear-seat entertainment system and a Reverse Sensing System that detects obstacles to the rear while the vehicle is backing up. Of course, all this is available on the Mercury Mountaineer as well.
A unique feature in the Aviator allows the second row split-folding bench seat to be replaced with two bucket seats and a console. This boosts passenger comfort and appears to be a worthwhile option, especially as it would separate warring siblings.
Ford did an admirable job of ensuring occupant safety. Features include dual-stage front air bags and a side-curtain air bag system (which provides enhanced occupant protection in side impacts and rollovers), as well as systems designed to aid drivers in the event of a skid.
Many buyers would find the price premium hard to swallow, but the siren song of the Lincoln’s styling and incredible power do much to make the higher tariff more bearable.
Sadly, the test vehicle didn’t live up to the quality standard that one expects of Lincoln. The rear tailgate was balky to open; a trim piece had fallen off. Neither is a big indictment; this can happen on any car or truck. But the power passenger seat failed to work, something that shouldn’t fail with as little as 10,000 miles on the odometer.
Fuel economy was typical for an all-wheel-drive, V-8-powered SUV. Mixed city-highway driving returned 13.6 miles per gallon. The Aviator uses premium fuel.
You can get an Aviator in two trim levels: the base Luxury version and the upscale Premium. A rear-wheel-drive Luxury starts at $39,995; adding all-wheel drive raises that to $42,915. A rear-drive Premium starts at $42,945, the all-wheel-drive version at $45,865. Prices include the destination charge.
Although the Aviator may not strike a value-conscious buyer as the best buy in the Mountaineer-Aviator-Navigator trio, it is more powerful and stylish than a Mountaineer and easier to handle than the giant Navigator.
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Lincoln Aviator SUV
Engine: 4.6-liter V-8
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Wheelbase:
113.7 inches
Length: 193.3 inches
Width: 83.9 inches
Weight: 4,957 pounds
Cargo volume: 39.9 cubic feet
Towing: 7,100 pounds
Base price: $45,865
EPA rating: 13 miles per gallon city, 18 highway
Source: Morning Call
