The 2020 Lincoln Aviator Just Raised The Bar – Here’s One Amazing Feature That Blew Us Away

Lincoln references “Quiet Flight” for the 2020 Aviator.

The revamp of Lincoln’s SUV lineup continues as the 2020 Aviator inches closer to its on-sale date. Now, after its reveal at last year’s LA Auto Show and learning more about its price and specs, we finally have the opportunity to drive it for the first time. In this video, Roman heads out to the Napa Valley in California to get a hands-on look at the new Aviator.

2020 Aviator

As a measure to accommodate the other journalists attending the media event, we are restricted from talking about the car’s driving impressions until next week on August 20. Until then, though, we can show you around the 2020 Aviator and the features that distinguish the car from its predecessors and Lincoln’s other SUVs.

2020 Aviator

One of the main distinctions of the 2020 Aviator comes down to its available powertrains. The standard Aviator comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine under the hood. That powertrain manages 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The real powerhouse, as it turns out, is the 2020 Aviator Grand Touring, the plug-in hybrid model. The hybrid Aviator churns out a whopping 494 horsepower and Raptor-crushing 630 lb-ft of torque. Not only that, but it should manage decent fuel economy as well. Only the standard Aviator has certified EPA figures at the moment, with the rear-wheel drive model managing 18 City / 26 Highway / 21 Combined mpg.

The technology on hand also sets the 2020 Aviator apart from its current Lincoln siblings. Engineers brought a technology called Road Preview to the new Aviator, which monitors the road ahead and adjusts the suspension to smoothen the ride as much as possible. The Aviator also brings Phone As a Key, letting owners use their phone as a key fob.

2020 Aviator

On sale this summer

The standard 2020 Aviator model will go on sale in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants this summer, at prices starting from $51,100. The hybrid Grand Touring model will follow shortly after, going on sale in Fall 2019. Prices on the Grand Touring start from $68,800, plus at least a $1,095 destination fee.

Check out the video above for our first look at the 2020 Aviator, and come back soon for more driving impressions as well as more Lincoln news, views and real-world reviews!

Correction 8/16/2019: I incorrectly stated the 2020 Lincoln Aviator’s starting price. It is actually $51,100 (excluding the $1,095 destination fee). Sorry for the error!