Brace yourselves for this one.
Lincoln has made a new sport utility vehicle. And it does not come with landing lights.
It does not “Beep, beep, beep” when it backs up. It does not come with a sticker that asks, “How’s my driving?”
Brace yourselves. It’s actually driveable.
Just when you thought the 341st SUV to hit the market was going to try to outsize the rest of the field, Lincoln took a deep breath and stepped off the scale.
Even Lincoln admits as much.
“Like Navigator,” the automaker says about its 2003 Aviator, “just smaller.”
Can we hear an amen?
Just when the notion of climbing inside another brute-ute was starting to get to us, Lincoln decided it was time to try Slim Fast.
Call the Aviator a Lincoln Lite. Looks great. Less filling. And not a Navigator.
The point here is obvious: If you are interested in owning a Lincoln, but not interested in owning a luxury liner, you can downsize a little. Lincoln expects 85 percent of its young, affluent buyers to be new to the brand. At 10 grand less, it is a good place to start.
Now the idea of going smaller is nothing new in the sport-ute market. It’s just new to Lincoln. The automaker was the first to enter the full-size luxury SUV market with the 1998 Navigator. But it has been sitting on the sidelines ever since as Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and BMW have put their stamp on the midsize-ute market. Until now.
In the Aviator, Lincoln has kept many of the Navigator qualities without the dimensions.
Built on the same platform as the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, the Aviator is actually a miniature version of the Navigator. It has the same creature comforts, the same luxury appointments and the same Lincoln look. Besides the lower price – the Aviator starts at $39,255 – it is also 1,000 pounds lighter and a foot shorter.
In short, manageable.
Available in two-wheel or four-wheel drive Luxury and Premium versions, the Aviator is a performer that everyone can appreciate.
From the first turn of the key to the final step on the brake, the Aviator soars with some of the best competition out there – the BMW X5, Acura MDX and Mercedes ML 500.
A five-speed automatic transmission sends a considerable amount of thrust to the tires and, with a stellar body-on-frame design, the Lincoln also has a sizeable towing advantage over the competition – 7,300 pounds in the all-wheel-drive version.
The 302-horsepower 4.6-liter V-8 produces good low-end torque – that pull you get from stepping on the pedal at the stoplight – and is capable of zipping this 5,000-pound ride in and around traffic as well as onto the interstate. The well-tuned four-wheel independent suspension gives you a firm ride and allows you to actually take it off-road (something not suggested in the Navigator).
On the road, it’s a breeze to drive. The goal at Lincoln was to provide precise handling and steering feel without sacrificing a smooth ride. Check all the above.
Unlike the Navigator, the Aviator is not a size-XXL burden.
But from every angle there is no mistaking the fact this is still a Lincoln.
The waterfall grille in front and the flat rear make the Aviator look like a Navigator that’s been shrunk. Inside it’s more of the same. The cabin features a symmetrical dash, plenty of wood trim, power-adjustable pedals and enough leather to make more than a few cows nervous. It is upscale all the way – metal accents, a classy analog clock and gauges and dials that come with a nice trim. And there are options galore – from heated/cooled seats to a DVD rear entertainment system.
With enough money, you can do your Aviator up just like the big boys. More importantly, there is also a good measure of versatility. In addition to providing a choice of bucket seats or a bench for the second row, the Aviator also boasts more third-seat legroom than the full-size Cadillac Escalade. And the Aviator can carry 77 cubic feet of cargo, which is equivalent to the Lexus GX 470.
On safety, the Aviator includes hefty anti-lock brakes (13 inches in the front with dual-piston calipers) and side-curtain air bags, which also provide protection in a rollover.
On technology, the Aviator is tops. The Explorer’s V8 has been nicely refined in this ride and there is top-notch hardware throughout – from monotube shocks to extra-large stabilizer to performance glazed glass that absorbs noise.
And there are other impressive features. The Aviator comes with nearly nine inches of ground clearance, three feet of head room in the third row and a ton of cargo room.
Drawbacks?
Fuel economy is not great – 13 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. The placement of the automatic window switches is awkward given that they are in the center console, not on the doors, and right about where your right elbow rests. And price can become an issue when loaded up with all the extras.
Without the extras, the Aviator is a worthwhile, luxo-class competitor that starts under $40,000.
Fortunately, price is not the only thing that is finally smaller.
2003 Lincoln Aviator
Rating: 3.5
High gear: Comfort, class and – get this – compact (OK, more compact than most brutish SUVs), the Aviator is a scaled-down version of the Navigator that still offers cargo room and all the Lincoln extras, without the XXL size.
Low gear: Fuel economy can be a drag on the wallet, the placement of window switches is awkward and price can become an issue with all the extras.
Vehicle type: Rear- or all-wheel drive, front-engine, four-door, six- or seven-passenger luxury sport utility vehicle.
Key standard equipment: Five-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel anti-lock brakes; remote anti-theft alarm system; fog lights; rear parking sensors; leather upholstery; six-way power driver and passenger seat; rear heating ducts with fan control; power windows, door locks and heated mirrors; cruise control; tilt steering; height-adjustable pedals; dual-zone climate control; AM/FM cassette in-dash single CD player.
Key competition: GMC Envoy XL, BMW X5, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX4
Base engine: 302 horsepower, 32-valve DOHC, 4.6-liter V-8
Torque: 300 ft.-lbs. @ 3,250 rpm
Wheelbase: 113.7 inches
Length: 193.3 inches
MPG rating: 13 city/18 highway
Manufactured: St. Louis
Warranty: Basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles; drivetrain is four years/50,000 miles; roadside assistance is four years/50,000 miles; and rust is five years/unlimited miles.
Base price: $39,255
