Lincoln · 2002–present

Lincoln Aviator

The Lincoln Aviator is a mid-size, three-row luxury SUV manufactured and marketed under the Lincoln brand of Ford Motor Company — and now in its second generation, with a hiatus from 2006 to 2020. The first generation Aviator was manufactured for 2003–2005 model years as a rebadged variant of the third generation Ford Explorer — and assembled at the now-closed St. Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri, alongside the Explorer and Mountaineer. For the 2020 model year, Lincoln reintroduced the Aviator as a badge engineered variant of the sixth generation Ford Explorer manufactured at Chicago Assembly and offered with a plug-in hybrid variant.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Lincoln MKX

All Lincoln Aviator data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

First generation (UN152; 2003)

The Aviator was launched for the 2003 model year with three-row six-passenger seating configuration and optional second row bucket seats with center console or second-row bench seating (at no cost). Along with the choice of four-wheel drive (4WD) configuration and towing packages, the Aviator was offered with optional heated/cooled front bucket seats, xenon (HID) headlights, 17-inch chrome wheels, and a DVD-based navigation system. These options were late availability in 2003 on the premium model and 2004 (Ultimate), 2005 (Elite). The Aviator was equipped with dual front/side airbags, side-curtain airbags, stability and traction control. Chassis. Sharing its chassis with the third-generation Explorer, the Aviator is derived from the body-on-frame Ford U1 platform. Sharing its 2,888 mm (113.7 in) wheelbase with the Explorer/Mountaineer, the Aviator is fitted with four-wheel independent suspension. A standard towing package was fitted to all 4WD Aviators with a heavy-duty towing package optional on either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4WD models. Powertrain. In place of the SOHC two-valve version of the 4.6 L Modular V8 shared with the Explorer/Mountaineer and other Ford trucks, the Aviator was fitted with the DOHC four-valve version of the engine, shared with the Mustang Mach 1 and Marauder. Producing 225 kW (302 hp; 306 PS) and 407 N⋅m (300 lbf⋅ft) of torque, the DOHC V8 engine in the Aviator came with two more horsepower than the 5.4-L V8 in the Navigator (though with 75 N⋅m (55 lbf⋅ft) less of torque). As with the Explorer/Mountaineer, rear-wheel drive was standard, with Lincoln offering all-wheel drive as an option; all versions were equipped with a five-speed 5R55S overdrive automatic transmission. Body. The Aviator derived its body construction from the third-generati

Second generation (U611; 2020)

At the 2018 New York Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled a prototype version of its planned second-generation Aviator, scheduled to enter production in 2019. A more detailed production was later introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018. Lincoln confirmed that the Aviator would go on sale in the summer of 2019 as a 2020 model in North America and China (as the Chinese: 飞行家; pinyin: fēi háng jiā; lit. 'Aviator') afterward. The Aviator comes standard with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that outputs 400 hp (298 kW; 406 PS) and 415 lb⋅ft (563 N⋅m) of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator Grand Touring's powertrain outputs 494 hp (368 kW) and 630 lb⋅ft (854 N⋅m) of torque from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and a 75 kW (101 hp; 102 PS) electric motor in a plug-in hybrid system. Overview. The 2018 Aviator prototype marked the debut of an all-new vehicle platform for Ford Motor Company; while the vehicle is RWD, the architecture is designed for multiple powertrain layouts, including all-wheel drive (AWD) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The second-generation Aviator shares its platform architecture with the sixth-generation Explorer. While again mechanically related to the Explorer, the Aviator received its own styling. The Aviator is the first Lincoln model to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. Several technological features debuted on the 2018 prototype Aviator. Tying the vehicle camera system with the continuously controlled dampers, Suspension Preview Technology looks at the road ahead for surface irregularities (i.e., potholes), preparing the suspension for impact and its effect on vehicle ride. Phone as a Key allows an Aviator to be driven without keys; the technology allows the smartphone of the owner to serve as the vehicle key

Recalls

=== 2026 recall === In June 2026 Ford issued a recall order of over 741,000 vehicles, including the Aviator, in the U.S. due to a transmission issue that may damage the park system.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Lincoln Aviator

Manufacturer

Lincoln (Ford)

Production

2002–2005, 2019–present

Model years

2003–2005, 2020–present

Class

Mid-size luxury SUV (2002–2005), Mid-size luxury crossover SUV (2019–present)

Body style

5-door SUV

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1760333CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_AviatorCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1374097176 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Aviator_(U611)_IAA_2025_DSC_1441.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander Migl · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-suvs/aviatorLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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