2003 Lincoln Aviator Road Test

Walkaround

The all-new Lincoln Aviator was deliberately designed to be a scale model in size and price of Lincoln Navigator. As a result, the Aviator is nearly identical to the Navigator in appearance, both inside and out.

Aviator features the same chrome-laden grille as the Navigator, though it is more diminutive and less imposing because of the Aviator's overall smaller dimensions. Like the Navigator, the Aviator sports a generous application of chrome trim, from the grille to the roof rack to the rear licensee plate holder.

As a midsize luxury sport utility, the Aviator is a foot shorter in length than the Navigator, which is a full-size luxury sport utility. Aviator seats six or seven, depending on the seating configuration ordered, while the Navigator has room for eight. The Aviator is also about six inches shorter in height. In price, the Aviator starts at about $40,000 and tops out at just over $50,000. Navigator ranges from $50,000 to more than $60,000 when fully loaded.

The Aviator shares its basic body structure with the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, both of which were redesigned and re-engineered for 2002. The Aviator is more than just a redesigned Explorer, however. Its engineers modified the Explorer's basic architecture to produce a roomier, more comfortable, more luxurious vehicle with a smoother ride.

For starters, the Aviator is slightly longer and wider than the Explorer. It uses the Explorer's new independent rear suspension, a design more common on luxury cars than trucks that greatly improves ride quality and allows room underneath for the fold-down third seat. The Aviator takes this refinement a step farther, however, with a revised suspension, steering, and brakes. Lightweight components and different tuning have been employed for improved on-pavement ride.

The truck-like running boards, stationary and not power-operated like those on the Navigator, are a giveaway that the Aviator is a truck and not a car-based sport utility. In fact, the running boards are a necessity for short-legged passengers climbing aboard the tall utility.

Exterior colors include Gold Ash Metallic, Ceramic White Tricoat, Vivid Red Metallic, Medium Wedgewood Blue Metallic, Aspen Green Metallic, Mineral Grey Metallic and Ebony.

Interior Features

The Lincoln Aviator's interior is stunning. Nearly identical to the Navigator's interior (also redesigned for 2003), it is every bit as elegant as a luxury sedan.

Our Aviator was outfitted in two-tone leather, a cream (light parchment) complemented with charcoal gray (espresso), with American walnut burl wood trim. The interior also comes in a two-tone medium and dark ash.

The most distinctive touch on the interior is the pewter-colored satin nickel finish used on the center dashboard and shifter surround. Another distinguishing element is a door, in the same satin nickel finish, that pulls down to hide the audio system. You won't forget what you are driving when you close the door as its cover spells out L-I-N-C-O-L-N. Also on the center dash, the clock, with delicate gold hands and numbers, resembles an expensive watch. The clock is becoming a signature feature in Lincolns.

Aviator's interior designers said the 1961 Continental inspired the symmetrical instrument panel. Switches and controls, either rectangular toggles or rotary dials, are backlit with white LED lighting. The wood and leather trimmed steering wheel includes controls for the audio and climate controls. Every surface throughout the Aviator is not only attractive to the eye but also inviting to the touch.

Aviator comes standard with three rows of seats. The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive.

In the second row, Aviator buyers have a choice, for which there is no difference in price. They can select a three-way split bench seat that seats three or bucket seats that seat two. The bucket seats feature a hefty center console nearly identical to the one that sits between the front bucket seats. Either way, the second-row seats fold and tumble forward for access to the third row.

The third-row bench sits low and is most suitable for children. The third seat folds flat into the floor manually, not by power as is available in the Navigator. Nor does the Aviator offer a power liftgate, as the Navigator does. Instead, it is a two-piece design like on the Explorer and Mountaineer with a flip-up window positioned at the height of a shopping cart for loading of groceries without lifting the entire hatch.