Lincoln Aviator Generations, Specs and Best Versions to Buy
Overview of lincoln aviator generations from 2002 to present: specs, power ranges from 306 to 494 hp, and which versions make the most sense to buy.
The Lincoln Aviator is a 5-door SUV produced from 2002 to the present, with outputs spanning 306 to 494 hp across three generations. It suits buyers who want a full-size American luxury SUV with automatic transmission and a choice of RWD or 4x4. This guide covers lincoln aviator generations and specs to help you pick the right version.
Lincoln Aviator generations
1 generation (2002–2005)
The first-generation Lincoln Aviator was built from 2002 to 2005 as a 5-door SUV in 2 modifications, all rated at 306 hp with an automatic transmission and either RWD or 4x4. The 4.6 AT (306 hp) with 4x4 was the mainstream version: a 4601 cc engine accelerating to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.
2 generation (2018–present)
The second-generation Lincoln Aviator arrived in 2018 and remains in production, offering 3 modifications from 400 to 494 hp, all with automatic transmissions and RWD or 4x4. The volume version is the 3.0 AT (400 hp) 4x4 with a 2987 cc engine and fuel consumption of 11.8 l/100km; the RWD variant of the same 3.0 AT (400 hp) is more frugal at 11.2 l/100km. The flagship is the hybrid 3.0 AT (494 hp) 4x4, the most powerful Aviator ever offered.
2 generation, restyling 1 (2024–present)
The restyled second-generation Lincoln Aviator, on sale since 2024, comes in 2 modifications, both with a 2987 cc engine producing 406 hp and an automatic transmission. The 3.0 AT 4WD consumes 11.8 l/100km, while the RWD 3.0 AT does better at 11.2 l/100km.
Which Lincoln Aviator to buy
- 3.0 AT (400 hp) (2 generation): the mass-market 4x4 choice with 400 hp and 11.8 l/100km from its 2987 cc engine.
- 3.0 AT (400 hp) RWD (2 generation): the most economical Aviator on record at 11.2 l/100km while keeping the full 400 hp.
- 3.0 AT (494 hp) (2 generation): the hybrid flagship with 494 hp — the highest output in the entire Lincoln Aviator range.
- 3.0 AT 4WD (2 generation, restyling 1): the current 406 hp version from 2024–present, combining the newest hardware with 11.8 l/100km.
On the used market, the second generation (2018–present) offers the widest pool of cars, since it has been in production the longest of the modern versions and spans three power outputs. The first generation ended production in 2005, so any example is now roughly two decades old; the simpler single-engine lineup makes it easy to know exactly what you are getting.
Which Lincoln Aviator to avoid
Numbers point at the first-generation 4.6 AT (306 hp) only in relative terms: at 306 hp it is the least powerful Aviator, nearly 100 hp below the weakest second-generation version (400 hp), and its 2002–2005 production run makes it the oldest. Still, its 7.6-second 0–100 km/h time is the only recorded acceleration figure in the range, so it is dated rather than strictly dominated — avoid it only if you want the modern 2987 cc powertrains.