Much like Cadillac, Lincoln has been struggling to get back on the luxury horse for quite a few years now. And it seems the company is one step closer with the Aviator, a brand-new SUV that slots between the Nautilus and the massive Navigator.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator
Unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the midsize crossover will probably replace the MKT, just like the Nautilus replaced the MKX earlier in 2018. Not surprisingly, the Aviator is a significant departure from the MKT design-wise, sporting the company's new styling language, also seen in the Navigator and Nautilus.
Rated at 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, the EcoBoost mill cranks out more oomph than the 3.0-liter V-6 in the Mercedes-AMG GLE43, rated at 385 horses. That's also 60 horsepower more than the 40i version of the new BMW X5 and only 62 horses short of the 50i version. The Audi Q7 is no match for the Aviator either, with the range-topping U.S. model good for "only" 333 horsepower.
Of course, power isn't everything when it comes to luxury SUVs, but it's great to see a Lincoln climb above the competition without a gas-guzzling V-8 under the hood.
Lincoln Aviator |
Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 |
BMW X5 40i |
|
Engine |
3.0-liter, turbocharged V-6 |
3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 |
inline six-cylinder |
Horsepower |
400 HP |
385 HP @ 6,100 RPM |
340 HP |
Torque |
400 LB-FT |
384 HP @ 2,500-5,000 RPM |
331 LB-FT |
Transmission |
10-speed SelectShift® automatic |
9G Tronic automatic transmission |
Eight-Speed Auto |
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator.
Read our full review on the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE43.
Read our full review on the 2019 BMW X5.