The Lincoln Aviator returns for 2025 with a thorough refresh, especially in the Black Label trim which I am reviewing, and that continues to be the top of the line. Aviator remains Lincoln’s luxury halo in the midsize three-row SUV category, and the updates bring sharper styling, better technology, and more standard features than in years past. Lincoln really upped the game with this 2025.
Exterior
The exterior wears a new face with a bolder grille, sleeker headlights, and updated taillights. New wheel choices and colors have been added, and a blackout package is available for the Black Label with 22-inch Ebony Black wheels and a gloss black roof.
The changes give the Aviator a more modern, confident look without straying from its established design. I like the lines of this SUV a lot with a slightly swooping roofline, the big 22” machined wheels look great, and there is a tasteful amount of chrome surrounding the windows, and along the bottom between the wheel wells.
Performance
Power still comes from the durable 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400-horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and rear- or all-wheel drive, which is what I have this week. The plug-in hybrid Grand Touring model has been discontinued, so the lineup is simplified to the gas-only setup. Fuel economy remains at 17 city and 25 highway for AWD versions. Ride quality continues to lean toward comfort first, with a quiet cabin and smooth manners, and the acceleration is very strong and effortless.
Interior
As you open the door to enter the cabin, the updates are very noticeable. A larger 13.2-inch touchscreen anchors the dash and runs Lincoln’s new Digital Experience software, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Alexa Built-In, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The home page gives you pertinent information, then you can drill down to get to the vehicle settings, including Auto Hold, and there is a page of apps for everything you can think of, including Mindful Driving.
The seats in the Aviator are nothing short of amazing. The front power seats are 30-way Perfect Position seats. That means they can be adjusted in 30 different ways, including individual thigh supports, bolstering, headrest articulation, lumbar, recline, height, tilt, and fore/aft movement.
It is the thigh supports on both sides that really set this SUV apart. Instead of a single cushion moving forward or back, the left and right thigh bolsters extend separately, so the driver and passenger can fine-tune support for each leg. This is especially useful if one leg is working the pedals while the other is resting, or if the passenger simply wants more balanced comfort. The extensions slide forward and back in small increments, allowing you to customize the cushion length to reduce pressure on the back of your legs during long drives.
The 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster carries over but benefits from refreshed graphics. A new Black Label theme called Invitation has been added, joining the curated interior packages that include Lincoln’s highest-grade leathers, natural woods, and ambient lighting. Comfort remains a high point with Perfect Position massaging seats, ventilated second-row seating, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system. Wireless charging and Phone as Key are now standard across the board.
The center console is well laid out with transmission buttons up high, a phone charger, two cupholders, a button to turn off the start/stop system, and a knob to scroll through the drive modes, which include: Normal, Conserve, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Preserve EV on hybrids. Yes, Excite is where I stayed almost the entire week.
Moving to the second row, it is very roomy with Captain’s Chairs. My tester has an optional $480 full center console. The full rear console in Aviator provides second-row captain’s chair passengers with storage, cup holders, charging ports, and their own climate and audio controls, but does reduce seating capacity to six. However, getting to the third row is a breeze with the Easy Entry system, which lets the second-row captain’s chairs power-slide and tilt forward with the push of a button to create a clear path to the back, and the middle chairs are heated and air conditioned.
Once there, two not overly large adults would be comfortable with legroom, and the headroom was surprisingly good. Third-row passengers get their own cup holders and USB charging ports along with dedicated air vents to keep the rear cabin comfortable.
Technology is much improved for 2025, with Lincoln making BlueCruise hands-free driving standard for four years on all trims, including this Black Label.
The CoPilot360 driver-assist suite has been updated with lane-change assist and improved camera and sensor integration, while the 360-degree camera and massive head-up display remain. These updates bring the Aviator much closer to its luxury competition in terms of connectivity and driver assistance.
Standard features on the Black Label are extensive and include: The 13.2 inches Sync setup, a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, head-up display, remote start, adaptive suspension, ambient lighting, LED lighting, and a hands-free power liftgate.
It also comes with tri-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and ambient lighting.
The Aviator rides like you are on a pillow, yet handling is surprisingly good and it is whisper quiet inside. The 3.0 V6 with twin turbos really make this thing move. Fuel economy is good for a 3-row loaded SUV at 17 city, 25 highway, and 20 overall. This Aviator will also tow 5,000 pounds for those with trailers.
Price-wise this ultra-loaded SUV is coming in at an MSRP of $91,320 but remember, with the Black Label you also get curated interior themes, premium materials, and exclusive ownership perks such as complimentary maintenance, car washes, detailing, and access to the Lincoln Culinary Collection and Travel Experiences. If you want to go less, the Premiere package starts at just $59,295. Just a word about the paint. I like it and find it attractive, it’s called Cenote Green but it is a $2,000 extra charge I would personally be able to live without.
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