Used 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator is a luxury 3-row midsize SUV made in the United States. It’s spacious and wonderfully comfortable in the first two rows, the level of technology is exactly where it needs to be, and cargo capability is impressive.

Not only is a plug-in hybrid version of the new Aviator SUV available — Lincoln calls it the Grand Touring, and it is capable of achieving the equivalent of 56 mpg in a combination of city and highway driving — but it’s also offered in high-luxe Black Label form.

Owning a top Black Label version goes beyond just having all the toys on board. Various privileges are offered (subject to certain conditions), such as pickup and return for scheduled maintenance, free car washes, free car rentals in several cities, and a few other perks.

The Aviator is set up squarely in the comfort camp, even without the optional adaptive air suspension. This large, heavy SUV won’t inspire any enthusiastic driving, despite 400 horsepower in the regular drivetrain. And despite the pretense of two turbochargers, there’s still a little wait for them to spool up and kick in.

The Grand Touring PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) does a pretty good job with fuel economy, but this extra hardware has the other advantage of bringing a lot of muscle to the 2023 Aviator — nearly 500 horsepower and more than 600 lb-ft of torque. That said, the additional weight is the downside to the power’s upside.

Welcome to the palace. This is where the 2023 Aviator really shows its luxury SUV credentials. Although the lowest trim has simulated leather instead of the real stuff, it’s still quite convincing. And the cushioning beneath is more than plush enough.

Lincoln offers its 30-way power-adjustable front seats with massaging in the Aviator. Buyers can choose whether to have seating for seven with a bench seat in the second row or six occupants by opting for a pair of captain’s chairs instead.

A well-designed dashboard houses a 10.1-inch infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital driver information display is standard throughout, and chimes performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra replace the usual beeps and pings produced by other vehicles.

Maximum legroom in the second row is a generous 39.0 inches, but 29.2 inches in the third row makes this spot more suitable for smaller family members. Cargo space goes from 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row to 77.7 cubic feet with rows two and three folded down. That’s good for this category.

A big and imposing look gives the 2023 Aviator all the presence it needs to compete in this luxury SUV category.

The Jet package becomes available at the Reserve trim level. Jet is the shade of black used to finish a set of 22-inch alloy wheels and a host of exterior elements. A similar rundown of black-finished elements is in the Black Label Special Edition Luxe package, plus a black roof.

INTERIOR APPOINTMENTS
The quality of materials is high, from the leather to the wood. And the Revel audio systems are among the best found in any vehicle.

PHONE AS A KEY
The 2023 Aviator can recognize the presence of its owner’s smartphone and unlock the doors automatically. There’s also a keypad on the driver’s door if the phone has a drained battery.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator, in Standard trim, is far from basic. Among the standard features on this premium luxury SUV are 19-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, powered liftgate, keyless entry/ignition, 3-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery (known as Lincoln Soft Touch), heated/power-adjustable front seats with memory settings for the driver’s side, power-folding/sliding seconnd-row seats, and power-folding third-row seats.

Driver aids include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, front/rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams.

The infotainment system employs a 10.1-inch touchscreen and includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, Wi-Fi, USB-A and USB-C ports (front and rear) Bluetooth, and a 10-speaker audio setup.

The not-so-basic base 2023 Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV also offers 20-inch alloy wheels, heated steering wheel/second-row seats/wiper blades, navigation, panoramic sunroof, and a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row.

Most of these items are standard in the next-up Reserve trim. That trim also adds hands-free tailgate operation, leather seating surfaces, 4-zone automatic climate control with touchscreen control for the second row, a power-adjustable steering column with memory settings, a 360-degree camera system, wireless phone charging, and a 14-speaker Revel audio upgrade. An adaptive air suspension also comes with the optional all-wheel-drive system.

The extras for this trim level include the same heated features offered with the base Aviator, plus heated/ventilated front-row and second-row seats, 30-way power-adjustable/massaging front seats, head-up display, adaptive cruise control with stop/go and lane centering, side parking sensors, active parking assistance, evasive steering assistance, reverse braking assistance, the Phone As A Key function, adaptive LED headlights, rear-seat entertainment system, more USB ports, and a 28-speaker Revel surround-sound system. The Jet cosmetics package is also available.

The Grand Touring has the plug-in hybrid drivetrain with its own set of selectable driving modes, plus 21-inch alloy wheels and eligibility for the same options offered with Reserve trim. Although this model has all-wheel drive as standard, the adaptive air suspension remains on the options list.

Black Label is the point where the majority of optional equipment becomes standard. The exceptions being the air suspension, rear-seat entertainment system, extra USB ports, and a couple of cosmetics packages. The same formula applies to the Grand Touring Black Label plug-in hybrid model.

A trailer towing package is offered at every trim level.

The main drivetrain in the 2023 Aviator SUV range is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 developing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to a standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) arrangement or an optional (AWD) all-wheel-drive system. However, the top Black Label model has AWD as standard.

The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring models are plug-in hybrids, both employing a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with an electric motor (powered by a lithium-ion battery) for a considerable total output of 494 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard here, along with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

It takes about 3.5 hours to recharge the battery fully using a 240-volt supply. The electric side of this powertrain supplies an emissions-free range of 21 miles.

Regular gasoline is fine for both versions. These fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pertain to 2022, but 2023’s should be the same.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6
400 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
415 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 mpg (RWD), 17/24 mpg (AWD)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6/electric motor (PHEV Grand Touring)
494 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
630 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250 rpm
EPA fuel economy (combined miles per gallon equivalent — MPGe): 56 MPGe (electricity + gasoline), 23 mpg (gas)
Electric-only range: 21 miles