When it is your brother’s wedding week, you want to make a statement with the vehicle you drive. How does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve sound? From the very first look, everyone was left speechless. The Aviator Reserve has a pristine white exterior with 22” inch jet black rims. The overall appearance of the Aviator Reserve is bold and demanding. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Aviator Reserve as I pulled up in our cul de sac and multiple pictures were taken of this beast.
Lincoln is one of the top luxury vehicle division of American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company. I always thought Lincoln vehicles were a crowd pleaser for the older generation. However, I was proven wrong. The Lincoln Aviator Reserve is coined as the “smaller brother” to the Lincoln Navigator. We have grown up knowing the Lincoln Navigator as a big SUV, however, the Aviator Reserve is no diminutive SUV, as it holds its own ground.
Lincoln has done a fantastic job with the exterior design of the Aviator Reserve. The first thing I noticed was the bold grille with the sharp LED lighting, and 22” jet black rims. Lincoln vehicles have been big and elegant, the Aviator Reserve was no exception. One of the neat features is the Lincoln logo and it’s LED lighting illuminated with rest of the exterior lights during the night. However, the “wow” factor was the Aviator Reserve came equipped with standard “Air Glide” Suspension, which replaces the traditional hard coil springs with air bladders. The air bladders automatically inflate and deflate to help soften your ride, creating the sensation of riding in air. This system allows the vehicle to “kneel” down to greet you as you approach, talk about receiving VIP treatment. This type of suspension allows getting in and loading cargo more effortlessly. Plus the suspension will rise and lower based on specific drive modes. Moving on, the Lincoln Embrace features welcome the driver of the vehicle from up to 9 feet away. The vehicle detects your key fob from a distance and activates exterior and interior lighting, including the Lincoln logo projection on the ground, door handle illumination, and ambient cabin lighting. The feature also includes Lincoln’s signature LED exterior lighting and it can be customized or disabled through the vehicle’s settings.
The interior of the Aviator Reserve is amazing. It has seating for 6. The interior features Onyx/Harvest Bronze leather seating for a bold color. It features a 13.2” LCD touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard which runs Lincoln’s latest infotainment system. The Lincoln Digital Experience features support from Google, where the drivers benefit from the world’s most advanced mapping system, featuring globally-sourced, real-time date, convenient voice commands with Google Assist. I found the infotainment system simple and easy to use. You can control everything from the touchscreen, including heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats, to navigation and playing your favorite music from Spotify or YouTube. The menus are simple and scrolling between different applications is a breeze. The audio system is from Revel Ultima 3D with 28 speakers. The Revel audio system is designed in tandem with Lincoln, it blends immersive listening and is carefully tuned to match the unique interior of each model.
When I sat in the driver’s seat of the Aviator Reserve, the leather wrapped steering wheel had a nice grip. Also, it had controls for audio, media and cruise control. The Heads-Up Display was a helpful feature. It allows the driver to look ahead and focus on the road while seeing the travelling speed, and lane keeping system information. I found the seating comfortable and luxurious. The Aviator Reserve not only has heated and cooled front seats but, also equipped with 30-way perfect position seats with active motion massage. The massaging seats is a neat add on that relaxes the driver. Also, another neat add on is the wireless charging pad which ensures your phone stays fully charged. The Aviator Reserve’s panoramic vista roof is a great feature as it is a dual-panel glass roof with power sunshade allowing an open air feel into the cabin. When the vista roof is closed, is has a solar reflective feature to keep the vehicle cool and block UV rays.
We are used to vehicles with gear shifters either built into the side of the steering wheel or in the middle between the driver and passenger. As a result, we have to move the physical level to different positions to select gears. However, Lincoln had something magical setup in their Aviator Reserve. For gear selection they had the piano key shifter which is a luxury gear selector featuring horizontal row of touch-sensitive buttons, inspired by grand piano keys, which allows for gear changes by pressing a button instead of moving a level. This added an elegant touch to the Aviator Reserve, and freed up space.
The second row seating was equipped with Captain Chairs. The seating controls are managed by a 5.8 inch touchscreen located in the second row. Through these controls, passengers can adjust their seat position, control heating and ventilation, and manage the rear climate and audio settings. There is more than enough leg room for the second row passengers. Moreover, the second row seating has USB-C ports.
However, for the third row seating, the space was limited for adults, with cramped legroom and poor leg support. The premium materials found in the front two rows were missing in the third row. However, the third row is equipped with air vents and two USB-C ports. In my opinion, the third row seating is more suited for shorter trips or for carrying smaller passengers.
The Aviator Reserve features a Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine, with 10-speed select shift automatic transmission with paddle activation. This produces 400 horsepower with 415-ft of torque. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard, which means it is properly equipped for the BC winters. The Aviator Reserve came with five drive modes, normal, conservative, excite, slippery, and deep conditions. I found the Aviator Reserve moved smoothly and with an impressive agility for a large vehicle. Moreover, it packed a punched when you stepped on the accelerator or changed the drive mode into excite. When travelling on the freeway and changing the drive mode into excite, it brought the Aviator Reserve to life, sportier driving experience with quicker throttle response, enhanced driving feel, and quicker shifting. Furthermore, the paddle shifters added an extra sportier feel when shifting gears while driving in “excite” drive mode. Overall, I loved the feel of the Aviator Reserve.
As for the safety features the Aviator Reserve had it all. It came equipped with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0. The Co-Pilot360 is a standard suite of advanced safety features, including Blind Spot Information System with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-keeping system, automatic emergency braking includes Dynamic Brake Support, and auto high beam headlamps. Moreover, it had forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and intersection assist. I found the Aviator provided a variety of safety features to ensure the driver and passengers remained safe while travelling.
Lastly, I found the cargo space was not adequate due to the third row seating. For me this was not ideal for the dreaded weekly Costco runs. This would require the third row seating to be folded to allow for more cargo space in the trunk. However, the third row seating could be folded by the push of a button, as this saved time from the previous generations of SUVs. Another downfall against the Aviator Reserve is the need for premium fuel for its large tank size of 76 litres. With today’s fuel prices, taking this beast out for weekly grocery runs or other short trips within the city, may not be ideal for everyone.
The price of the Aviator Reserve as tested, was $96,795.00 total MSRP. This includes the base price of $80,100 and total options coming at $14,300.00. When comparing the Aviator Reserve with other rivals like the Acura MDX, Cadillac XT6, Genesis GV80, Infiniti Qx60, Volvo XC90, and Mercedes-Benz GLE which charge extra for features whereas the Aviator Reserve is equipped with these features without the add on fees. The pricing for the Aviator Reserve is justified as it has the luxury and technology which we crave from vehicles which are in the $100,000 price range.
Overall, I recommend the Lincoln Aviator Reserve for individuals who prioritize luxury, comfort, performance, and advanced technology in a mid-sized, three-row SUV. The Aviator Reserve targets consumers who want an enhanced driving experience, including the upscale features and security of advanced safety features.
