This week, I have a real beauty for you, the new 2022 Lincoln Aviator Reserve, a 3-row luxury SUV.
I really like the sleek looks of this SUV. It has fantastic LED lights in the front and rear, 22” Ebony wheels, front fog lights, a lit Lincoln emblem in the grill, rear spoiler, and quad exhaust.
Under the big aluminum hood is a 3-liter V6 EcoBoost with twin-turbochargers putting out 400-horses. It has a 10-speed automatic with shift paddles and it is all-wheel drive.
Reach inside the door handle and open the electric doors to reveal a stunning interior. You first see the heated and cooled power adjustable seats that feature ultra-soft pillowing. It even has separate power thigh supports and of course, the seats will massage you.
As you sit to begin your adventure, you hit the start button on top of the dash and you are greeted by two welcoming screens that display beautiful clouds.
Everything operates from a 10-inch touchscreen that operates audio, Bluetooth, Navigation, a host of apps, and vehicle settings. You can swipe left or right to access a ton of info and you can turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot.
Under that are your climate controls, and your transmission shift buttons, which I like a lot. All this flows into a pass-through center console with cup holders, a couple of storage areas, and a center glove box. There is also a cell phone charger, but it is a little hard to get your phone out.
This is also where you change the drive modes. You can choose from Conserve, Normal, Slippery, Deep Conditions and by far my favorite, Excite.
Heading to the rear, there are heated and air-conditioned captain chairs in the center row with cupholders between them, a 4-zone climate control system, and power outlets. A button on top of the center seats move them forward for access to the power fold third-row seats, which will fit two adults nicely. Second row occupants can also open and close the moon roof.
Cargo area is really good even with the 3rd row seats up, and there is a nice storage area under the floor. The third-row seats have buttons to fold them into the floor.
My review vehicle has the almost $6,400 Elements package which includes heated steering wheel, auto air refresh, heated and cooled seats, park assist, reverse brake assist, adaptive cruise control, and a wonderful head-display.
Some cool things about the Aviator are the voice command button, located on the steering wheel about where your thumb goes. You can use your cell phone to unlock and start the car, however, if there is a battery failure, you can unlock the SUV with the actual key from a small hole under the outside mirror.
Aviator has an incredibly smooth ride thanks to air suspension, it handles great especially in Excite mode, and overall it is just a joy of an SUV. Lincoln thought of everything.
I could do without the electric opening doors, they are a little hard to open from the inside, but otherwise I love everything about this SUV, especially the acceleration.
Fuel economy is 17 city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. Total MSRP on my ultra-loaded Infinite Black Aviator is $77,930 and by today’s standards, for a luxury 3-row SUV, I have no problem with the price.
If you are a Lincoln lover and the Navigator is too big and the Nautilus is too small, this is the one for you.
2022 Aviator in a few words: A beautiful and capable SUV that drives like a dream.