WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — The Lincoln Aviator was a real breakthrough for Lincoln five years ago. Built on an all-new rear-wheel-drive-based platform that was actually tuned for Lincoln, it drove like a top-of-the-line luxury SUV and looked like one too. They could have sold it as a value proposition, but on raw merit it was a car that could compete well against three-row luxury SUVs like the Acura MDX, Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7.
Lincoln has rested on its laurels since then, making few changes other than dropping the attractive but slow-selling plug-in hybrid Grand Touring version, but changes have finally been made and the 2025 Lincoln Aviator gets a refreshed interior, some tweaked styling and a slightly tweaked driving experience.
The new dash features a new 13.2″ touchscreen with the “Lincoln Digital Experience” interface, the 2025 Aviator’s biggest convenience improvement. This Android Automotive infotainment system lets you run Google Maps as the native navigation system, use Google Assistant for voice control, and download a variety of apps from the Google Play Store. You can ignore all that and just use wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto screen mirroring, but you might not want to.
Lincoln has beautifully integrated Google Maps View into the new 12.4″ digital instrument panel, providing a much better experience than running it via CarPlay. Logging into your music streaming app of choice in the infotainment is super easy, and controlling it via Google Assistant makes music selection seamless. All of this happens without any stuttering or awkward delays, especially considering smartphone-like animations and transitions.
This upgrade to the Lincoln Digital Experience is especially important for the Aviator, which previously had the Sync 3 infotainment system. While functional, it was outdated compared to the Sync 4 interface that’s been in various Fords for the past few years. The Aviator was one of the last to hold out, and overall it’s been a good one. However, depending on how you look at it, there may be a downside to this upgrade. The new screen and center stack eliminate most of the physical climate controls, relocating them to a row docked at the bottom of the touchscreen. Lincoln at least kept the volume knob, but the change may frustrate some.
The Aviator’s only engine option, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, shouldn’t cause any qualms. It’s the same engine as before, and it still produces 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. What’s different for the 2025 model is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which has been retuned for smoothness. Lincoln isn’t lying here, either. The 10-speed wasn’t a particular issue before, but a sensitive driver would certainly notice the less-than-smooth shifts. With the 2025 model, you won’t notice it at all, as the Aviator smoothly switches between each gear without a stutter or any noticeable “changes.” That’s exactly how it should be for such a classy, poised luxury car.
Lincoln didn’t skimp on the Aviator’s excellent ride quality, and the optional air suspension and standard adaptive dampers keep things comfortable. The Aviator has always been one of the nicest-riding three-row crossovers, and that remains true for the 2025. That said, it does mean it’s a little less exciting on twisty roads. The BMW X7 and MDX are much more fun to drive once the roads start to twist, so don’t think of the Aviator as a threat in both ride and handling.
On the plus side, the Aviator seems to make every effort to keep its occupants happy and relaxed. The V6 engine rarely disturbs the cabin’s tranquility, only making its presence apparent when you’re trying to enjoy the 400 horsepower. The large wheels and tires (our test car had the optional 22-inch) are very quiet in any situation and don’t make the ride uncomfortable. The optional 28-speaker Revel audio system creates quite a concert in the car when needed. Plus, long highway journeys are a breeze thanks to the addition of Blue Cruise. It’s standard for four years, but requires a subscription after that. Functionally, it’s the same as other Fords and Lincolns with the latest software that allows hands-free lane changing and in-lane repositioning to move away from vehicles in adjacent lanes, and both features work as advertised, although the overall lane-following capability and feature set still lags behind GM’s Super Cruise.
With all these updates in the technology department, it’s easy to miss the revamped front fascia that’s the centerpiece of the Lincoln Embrace. When you unlock the car, a nice welcome animation plays for both the front and rear lights, and it happens every time you lock it. This highlights the new headlights themselves, which stretch out to the sides and block out the larger grille. While our test car wasn’t finished in Cenote Green, we highly recommend opting for the Cenote Green paint color (below, top row) that Lincoln showed off when it first revealed this 2025 Aviator.
The Black Label theme continues through 2025, and there’s also a new theme (above, below) called “Invitation” for those who don’t like the rather quirky colors often found on Black Label models. It’s a simple black with laser-etched Kaya wood trim for a slight contrast. As per usual with the Black Label, the very luxurious materials and color scheme are applied to all rows of the vehicle. Second-row passengers get to enjoy a slight tech upgrade in the form of a screen that allows them to control the climate and audio controls. Other than that, the Aviator carries over unchanged to third-row riders, which means there’s plenty of space, but not the spaciousness you’d enjoy in the larger Navigator or in very spacious crossover competitors like the Lexus TX or Volvo XC90.
But all of the cosmetic tweaks don’t come close to the impact of the new tech suite on the 2025 Aviator. An infotainment system that rivals the best currently offered by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes makes this SUV even easier to recommend. It’s a shame the plug-in is no longer an option, especially given today’s increasingly hybrid-oriented market, but this V6 suits this car and its mission very well.
The biggest complaint is the price hike, with the base model increasing by $5,155 to $59,890. There’s a lot more standard equipment than before, but even the Black Label has increased by $7,770 to $88,390, and that version has always been the fully-loaded offering. That leaves the lower-mid-range trims with better options, like the Genesis GV80 and Volvo XC90. That means it no longer has the same value proposition, but the fact remains that the Aviator was and remains a great SUV, and a beautiful example of American luxury.
