MSRP Range: $39,000 to $46,000
Invoice Range: $36,000 to $41,500
Price Quote
MSRP As Tested: $45,125
Versions: Luxury, Premium, Kitty Hawk Edition
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive. Optional
All Wheel Drive with Control Trac.
Engine As Tested: 4.6-liter,
Dual Overhead Cam,
V-8 cylinder,
302-horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 300 lb-ft torque at 3,250 rpm
Transmission As Tested: 5-Speed Automatic
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 2-Wheel Drive - 14/19. 4-Wheel Drive - 13/18.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, front and side curtain airbags, 2nd-row side curtain airbags, power 4-wheel disc brakes, "> Antilock Braking System, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Rear Obstacle Detection System, Remote Keyless Entry.
Competition: Acura MDX, Ford Explorer, Lexus RX 300, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz M-Class
NEW YORK, New York -- Glistening in bright spotlights as they twirl on turntables at the New York International Auto Show, two new sport-utility vehicles from the Lincoln line appear as near twins, each dominated by a massive front grille plated in shiny chrome.
The larger wagon in this collection -- Lincoln's Navigator -- originated the class of luxury full-size SUVs when it was launched in 1997 as a 1998 product. In a fresh design for 2003, it reveals reworked body styling with a new face dominated by the signature chrome grille.
The second wagon, scaled as only one small step down in size from the redesigned Navigator, carries shapely exterior body panels and a forceful prow that mimics the styling of Navigator.
Package dimensions for this reduced-size version of Navigator fit into the mid-size SUV class and with its cushy appointments and standard third-row bench seat installed forge the first mid-size luxury sport-utility vehicle offered by Lincoln.
Couched in the overriding concept of "Honey, I shrunk the Navigator," this new deluxe wagon from Lincoln with seats for as many as seven passengers plus a powerful V8 engine aboard goes by the name of Aviator.
Its mission is to provide the most flexible seating arrangement, the most spacious cabin and the best towing capacity in the class of mid-size sport-utes.
To develop a new mid-size wagon for Lincoln, Aviator's designers began the process by employing the stiff platform developed for Explorer from Ford.
Aviator's structure, with fully boxed chassis rails, shares with Explorer a wheelbase of 113.7 inches and independent suspension elements for all four wheels.
However, the Lincoln wagon measures almost four inches longer and wider than Explorer and components for suspension, steering and brakes were reworked to produce the cushy kind of ride that makes Navigator so popular.
Frame rails on Aviator show stronger cross braces to support suspension mechanisms and make the chassis even stiffer, while upgraded suspension control arms, bushings and stabilizer bars are in place to negate body roll but also enhance responses from the steering gear.
The suspension uses coil springs linked to monotube dampers with 17-inch wheels and tires, while the steering system is a speed-sensitive ZF Servotronic II rack-and-pinion device.
Braking works with a big disc at every wheel tied to an anti-lock system (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).
For power, Aviator stocks a sophisticated aluminum V8 engine that displaces 4.6 liters and carries dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder.
The V8 delivers 302-hp at 5,750 rpm with torque cranked up to 300 lb-ft at 3,250 rpm.
To translate all of that power into force at the wheels, there's a five-speed automatic transmission rigged with a high stall-speed torque converter.
The axle ratio for all-wheel-drive (AWD) editions is quick to generate a strong sense of performance, while the axle for rear-drive two-wheel-drive (2WD) versions gets a taller gear.
Towing capacity from Aviator's powertrain -- extending up to 7,300 with a Class III trailer towing package -- can out-pull even some full-size SUVs.
Multiple safety systems are aboard, including smart frontal air bags rigged with two stages of force so they may deploy with lower energy during a minor collision but maximize inflation quickly for an intense incident.
Curtain-style side airbags -- dubbed a Safety Canopy -- are also in place and will deploy if sensors detect rollover movement of the vehicle.
Aviator's optional AWD Control Trac system also relates to safety, as the device automatically monitors tire traction and selectively channels the engine torque to front and rear wheels in varying proportions to maintain a steady grip on slick roads.
Yet another safety device -- AdvanceTrac -- is optional with Control Trac for traction and stability enhancement.
With both Control Trac and AdvanceTrac operating, Aviator can move forward even with only a single wheel maintaining traction as the combined equipment is capable of redirecting the engine's power from tires on one side of the wagon to the other or from front treads to the rear ones.
The package design for Aviator looks strong with chiseled lines and the prow dominated by that big grille in chrome. Bold quad-beam halogen headlamps shielded by clear lenses flank the grille and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps are an optional feature. Below, round fog lamps etch into the fascia.
The heated and power-adjustable side mirrors contain a clever safety feature, as bright chevrons appear on the surface of the mirrors and blink on and off each time the turn signal indicator is activated. Although these arrows are transparent to the driver, they become quite apparent to other drivers trailing the vehicle and quickly convey the message that Aviator is about to turn.
At the tail, the liftgate is a two-piece design with the flip-up glass providing easy entry through the window.
In the spacious cabin, Aviator brings best-in-class headroom and legroom up front with three rows of seats and a choice on the second row of either a bench divided 40/20/40 or twin buckets.
The third-row bench for two folds flat into the floor to expand the cargo bay when unoccupied.
With second and third rows of seats folded down, the cargo capacity runs up to 77.3 cubic feet. Leave second row seatbacks upright and there's still more than 40 cubic feet of space, or with all seats in place, 12.4 cubic feet.
Two trim levels work on Aviator: Luxury and Premium. Both contain deluxe equipment like dual-zone climate controls plus an auxiliary climate system for riders behind the front seats, premium leather seats and burl walnut trim, power controls for windows and seats, cruise control and a premium sound system with CD and cassette decks.
The Premium edition piles on more gear: A deluxe sound kit with six-disc CD changer in the dash, the HID headlamps, and front seats with internal heating and cooling element. A power moonroof and DVD entertainment system are also offered.
Expect prices for Aviator to extend across the range from $40,000 to $48,000.
Pros: Plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Better styling that other offerings from Ford such as the Explorer or Mercury Mountaineer. Near-luxury appointments with lots of optional accesories to meet everyone's needs.
Cons: This vehicle is in the "gas guzzling" class of vehicles. Shoppers should think carefully about their "real" need for this class of vehicle. If you drive alone, this is not a product to consider.
Ratings (1-10)
Style: 7
Performance: 6
Price: 6
Handling: 6
Ride: 7
Comfort: 8
Quality: 7
Overall: 6.7
MORE DATA
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Antiskid system, class III tow package, heated and cooled seats, power sunroof, premium stereo system, rear-seat entertainment system, tire-pressure monitor,
Seating: 7
Number of Rows: 3
Crash Test Ratings:
- NHTSA Frontal Impact/Driver Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Frontal Impact/Passenger Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Side Impact/Front Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Side Impact/Rear Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
- NHTSA Rollover Resistance Rating: Not Yet Tested
- IIHS Frontal Offset Crash Test: Overall Rating is Good
Length in Inches: 193.3
Warranties: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion, 4 years/50,000 miles free Roadside Assistance, 3/36,000 miles free Scheduled Maintenance.
Weight in Pounds: 4,957
Maximum Payload in Pounds: 2-Wheel Drive -1,247. 4-Wheel Drive - 1,195.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 2-Wheel Drive - 7,300. 4-Wheel Drive - 7,100.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 22.5
Destination Charge: $740
