2025 Lincoln Aviator SUV Pushes Connectivity, Standard BlueCruise

• Lincoln brand managers are counting on connected technologies and newly available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving to move more of the metal as the 2025 Aviator starts delivery this summer.

• A new 22-inch machined Ebony Black wheel will come standard on Black Label models, which can also be packaged with the adaptive suspension, black exterior trim, and a black painted roof.

• Pricing for the 2025 Aviator starts at $59,890 (with destination) for Premiere trim, $68,890 for Reserve, and $88,390 for Black Label. Order books are open now.

It’s been about four years since Lincoln had a sedan to sell—like the Continental, Town Car, LS, Zephyr, MKS, or MKZ. The fate of the luxury brand now rests in the popularity of its four SUVs, with the Nautilus representing its most popular model, having sold more than 24,000 units in the US last year.

The weakest seller in 2023 was the Aviator (15,551 units), so it makes sense that Lincoln’s top priority is refreshing this three-row SUV for the 2025 model year. The Aviator joined the lineup in 2019 for this luxury brand that celebrates its 107th birthday this August.

For those of you needing a scorecard explaining the platform sharing between the Ford and Lincoln brands, the Aviator shares its underpinnings with the Ford Explorer and comes from the Chicago assembly plant.

The Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair both come from Louisville, Kentucky, while the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator flagship SUVs are manufactured at the Kentucky Truck plant. The ‘24 Lincoln Nautilus (derived from the Ford Edge and known as the Lincoln MKX until 2019) is all-new as it arrives now from China, while a hybrid Nautilus will come this spring.

The Ford plant in Oakville, Ontario, had built the Nautilus previously, but that factory is being retooled to produce only EVs for the Ford and Lincoln brands later this year.

But it’s the Aviator getting all the product-development attention now, and the brand managers are counting on connected technologies and newly available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving to move more of the metal as the ‘25 Aviator starts delivery this summer.

There are several upgrades for the Aviator but not under the hood, where the carryover 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 makes the same 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, channeled through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The powertrain has been recalibrated for better refinement, smoother shift points, and improved damping to keep engine noise on the other side of the firewall.

Also unchanged is the rear-wheel-drive architecture with Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive available.

Previously, the Aviator offered three different suspensions, but the base passive configuration has been eliminated for 2025, leaving only the standard adaptive suspension along with the available Air Glide system for a smoother ride (optional on Reserve models and standard on Black Label).

Premiere will remain the base trim for the Aviator before stepping up to Reserve, then Black Label. Two new exterior colors are also available: Cenote Green and Whisper Blue Metallic.

Lincoln stylists recast the front end with a contoured mesh grille that has been raised slightly to better align with the new LED headlamps.

The Illumination Package will now be standard on Reserve and Lincoln Black Label models and incorporates—you guessed it—an illuminated Lincoln star out front and adaptive bending forward beams.

And what luxury SUV would be complete without an available blacked-out Jet Package? It’s new for ‘25 (with all-season tires) and available on all trims with unique wheels for each series.

Premiere models will get 21-inch aluminum rims with dark alloy-painted pockets, while Reserve models will get 22-inch black rims. Both of those wheels are carryover, but a new 22-inch machined Ebony Black wheel will come standard on Black Label models, which can also be packaged with the adaptive suspension, black exterior trim, and a black painted roof.

In addition, the panoramic roof will now be standard on all Aviators as of the 2025 model year.

At the lower end of the Aviator pricing sheet will be the new standard 20-inch machined aluminum rims with magnetic-painted pockets.

Inside, the refreshed Aviator Reserve will offer four new interior color schemes: Onyx, Light Space Gray, Harvest Bronze with Onyx accents, and Hot Chocolate with Onyx accents.

For Black Label models, open-pore Khaya wood adorns the instrument panel and center console, punctuated with laser-etched shapes while black leather seating surfaces are detailed with brandy-colored stitching. A Luggage Tan and ebony color scheme is also available on Black Label models.

Product planners are counting on Aviator customers to engage in the new Lincoln Digital Experience to access favorite apps and services from Google and Amazon directly or through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The Digital Experience encompasses hands-free highway driving available with Lincoln BlueCruise technology, which will now be standard for the first time on the Aviator, with four years of BlueCruise service included at vehicle purchase.

The Digital Experience will allow easier streaming of music, audiobooks, and podcasts. While parked, owners can even surf the web using the available Vivaldi Browser app (as well as Google Chrome, coming soon).

Also inside the new Aviator, the standard third row will accommodates two passengers (and is reasonably comfortable for a small-framed adult). Captain’s chairs will be standard on the ‘25 Aviator, although a three-person bench seat will be available on Reserve models.

Pricing for the ‘25 Aviator starts at $59,890 (with destination) for Premiere trim, $68,890 for Reserve, and $88,390 for Black Label.

The order books are open now.

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