First Test Drive of the 2025 Lincoln Aviator: Still a Gorgeous Example of American Luxury
WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — The Lincoln Pilot is a real milestone, a moment of flag planting on the ground for Lincoln five years ago. Built on an all-new rear-wheel-drive platform that’s been truly tuned for Lincoln use, it drives like a flagship luxury SUV and looks like one. While it could be considered a value proposition, it’s also a thoroughly competitive answer to three-row luxury SUVs like the Acura MDX, Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7 based on merit only
Lincoln has since sat on his laurels, changing little beyond cutting out cute but slow selling plug-in Hybrid Grand Touring version. However, changes finally came, when 2025 Lincoln Aviator interior improvements, minor styling changes and some tweaks to the driving experience.
New dashboard contains 2025 PilotThe biggest quality-of-life improvements are the new 13.2-inch touchscreen running the “Lincoln Digital Experience” interface. This Android Automotive infotainment system lets you run Google Maps as your native navigation system, use Google Assistant for voice control, and download tons of different apps through the Google Play Store. You can skip all that and use wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto screen mirroring if you like, but you probably don’t want to.
Lincoln beautifully integrates Google Maps into its new 12.4-inch digital dashboard, giving you a much better experience than if you just ran it through CarPlay. Logging into your streaming music app of choice in the infotainment is incredibly easy, and controlling it through Google Assistant makes music selection seamless. All of this happens without any awkward stutters or lag, which is impressive considering the smartphone-like animations and transitions.
This upgrade to the Lincoln Digital Experience is incredibly important for the Aviator because it has previously rocked Sync 3 infotainment system. While functional, it’s outdated compared to even Sync 4 The interface has been found in many Ford cars for years now. The Aviator is one of the last remaining models, and it’s generally better for it. Depending on your perspective, though, there may be a downside to the update. The new display and center console do away with most of the physical climate controls, moving them to a fixed row at the bottom of the touchscreen. Lincoln has at least kept the volume knob, but some may find the change annoying.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is the only engine option for the Aviator, and there’s no mistaking it. It’s the same engine as before, still making 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. What To be What’s different for 2025 is that the 10-speed automatic transmission has been recalibrated for smoother handling. Lincoln isn’t lying here, either. The previous 10-speed wasn’t exactly a pain point, but drivers could definitely notice some less-than-smooth shifts. You won’t notice them at all for 2025, as the Aviator glides through each gear without any noticeable interruptions or “shifts.” That’s just the way it should be for such a quiet, luxurious car. luxury car.
Lincoln doesn’t spoil the Aviator’s excellent ride, as the standard air suspension and adaptive dampers do a good job of keeping things comfortable. This is one of the better-riding three-row vehicles. interference before, and remains so for 2025. That said, this also means it’s still not fun on a winding road. BMW X7 And MDX It’s much more fun to drive on winding roads, so don’t think of the Aviator as a double threat in terms of ride and handling.
On the plus side, every effort seems to have been made by the Aviator to keep its passengers happy and relaxed. Its V6 rarely intrudes on the serenity of the cabin, only coming into play when you let it go to enjoy the 400 horsepower it offers. The large wheels and tires (our test car had the optional 22s) are quiet in all situations and don’t seem to disturb the ride. The available 28-speaker Revel audio system makes for a pretty loud concert inside when you want it to be. Plus, long highway trips can be easy affairs thanks to Blue Cruise join the party. It’s standard for four years but requires a subscription after that. Functionally, it’s the same as any other Ford or Lincoln, with the latest software allowing hands-free lane changes and lane repositioning to keep you clear of vehicles in adjacent lanes – both features work as intended. advertisedAlthough its overall prowess in lane tracking and feature set still lags behind GM Superyacht.
All these tech updates make it easy to overlook the refreshed front end, which makes the “Lincoln Embrace” the car’s standout feature. A cute welcome animation plays on both the headlights and taillights when you unlock the car, and it plays again when you lock it. This is accentuated by the new headlights, which now extend out to interrupt the larger grille. And while our test car wasn’t finished, I’d still recommend opting for the Cenote Green paint (below, top row) that Lincoln has introduced. initially revealed this 2025 Aviator.
The Black Label theme continues into 2025 and there’s even a new theme (above, bottom row) called “Invitation” for those who might not like some of the rather weird themes. color we often see on Black Label models. This one comes in a simple black finish with laser-etched Khaya wood trim for a slight contrast. As is typical for Black Label, the extremely rich materials and color schemes are applied to every row of seats in the car. Second-row passengers will enjoy a bit of a tech upgrade in the form of screens to control the climate control and audio system. The Aviator, on the other hand, remains the same for third-row passengers, meaning adequate space but not as spacious as you might enjoy in a larger car. Navigator or more broadly cross-competitive competitors such as Lexus TX or Volvo XC90.
No amount of cosmetic changes can match the impact of the 2025 Aviator’s new suite of technology, however. An infotainment system that rivals the best Audi Cars, BMW Cars And Mercedes car Today’s offerings make this SUV even easier to recommend. It’s a shame that the plug-in is no longer an option, especially with the market becoming increasingly hybrid-friendly these days, but this V6 suits the car and its mission quite well.
The biggest complaint is easily the price hike, as the base model has jumped $5,155 to $59,890. There’s more standard equipment than before, but even the Black Label has jumped $7,770 to $88,390, and that trim is always a full-blown affair. That leaves it with other great options like Genesis GV80 And Volvo XC90 in low- to mid-level trims. That means there’s no longer any value proposition, but it also doesn’t take away from the Aviator’s excellent value, an SUV that has always been a stunning example of American luxury.
