Used Lincoln Aviator Buying Guide

The Lincoln Aviator is a three-row luxury SUV with a twin-turbocharged V6, rear-wheel-drive architecture, and seating for six or seven. This guide covers every Aviator model year from 2020 forward, so you can match a used Aviator to the way you drive. Dennis Sneed Ford in Gower, Missouri, about 45 minutes north of Kansas City, buys late-model Lincolns directly from Ford every year, which keeps a deep bench of late-model Aviators on our lot.

What is the Lincoln Aviator?

The Lincoln Aviator is a three-row midsize luxury SUV from Lincoln, the luxury brand of Ford Motor Company. Today's Aviator dates to the 2020 model year, and every model uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6.

The Aviator sits between the compact Lincoln Nautilus and the full-size Lincoln Navigator. It is sized for families who need a usable third row but do not want the footprint of a full-size, body-on-frame SUV. The 2025 and newer Aviator is built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant, the same plant that builds the Ford Explorer.

Because the Aviator has stayed in the same basic form since 2020, a used Aviator shopper is mostly choosing between model years, powertrains, and feature sets rather than between generations. The sections below walk through each of those choices.

Which Lincoln Aviator model years are there, and what changed each year?

Lincoln has offered the current Aviator for model years 2020 through 2027. The biggest changes were a towing rating drop after 2021, the end of the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid after 2024, and a 2025 refresh that added standard BlueCruise and a new interior screen layout.

Towing figures are Lincoln's maximum ratings for a properly equipped vehicle. Actual capacity depends on the specific vehicle's drivetrain, axle ratio, and installed equipment. Confirm any specific Aviator's equipment by VIN before towing.

What engine does the Lincoln Aviator have?

Every Lincoln Aviator from 2020 forward uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6. On 2025 and 2027 models, Lincoln rates that V6 at 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, paired with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

On 2025 and newer models, Lincoln offers both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. On 2020 through 2024 models, the Grand Touring adds a plug-in hybrid system to the V6 and comes with all-wheel drive.

Lincoln's horsepower and torque ratings are based on premium fuel. Lincoln's current guidance lists 87-octane regular unleaded as the minimum, with 91 octane or higher recommended. For the exact recommendation on a specific model year, check that vehicle's owner's manual.

What was the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring?

The Aviator Grand Touring was the plug-in hybrid version of the Aviator, offered on 2020 through 2024 models. It combines the twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor and a battery that charges from an outlet, and it comes with all-wheel drive.

The Grand Touring is not part of the 2025 Aviator lineup, so a used 2020 to 2024 model is the only way to get a plug-in hybrid Aviator. If you plan to tow with a Grand Touring, confirm the tow rating and equipment on that specific vehicle by VIN before you buy.

Charging setup, battery condition, and remaining electrified-component coverage all vary by vehicle. Ask our team for the specific history on any Grand Touring you are considering.

How much can a Lincoln Aviator tow?

A properly equipped Lincoln Aviator tows between 5,000 and 6,700 lb depending on model year. The 6,700 lb maximum applies to 2020 and 2021 V6 models with the Class IV Trailer Tow Package. 2022 through 2024 models are rated at 5,600 lb, and 2025 and newer models at 5,000 lb.

That means an older Aviator can out-tow a newer one, which matters if you pull a boat or camper. A 2020 or 2021 Aviator with the Class IV package carries the highest rating Lincoln has published for this generation. On 2025 and 2026 models, the Class III Trailer Tow Package is standard.

Towing ratings depend on how each vehicle was built. Before you hitch up, confirm the factory tow package and axle ratio on the exact Aviator you are buying. Our team can check that by VIN.

How much room is in a Lincoln Aviator?

The Lincoln Aviator seats six or seven depending on whether it has second-row captain's chairs or a bench. On the 2025 Aviator, Lincoln lists 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 41.8 behind the second row, and 77.7 behind the first row.

For 2026 and 2027, Lincoln lists 16.5, 39.9, and 75.9 cubic feet behind the third, second, and first rows. On 2026 models, captain's chairs are standard on Premiere and Black Label, while Reserve comes standard with a bench and offers captain's chairs.

The 2025 through 2027 Aviator rides on a 119.1-inch wheelbase. If you are deciding between six and seven seats, check the second-row layout on the specific vehicle. It is the single biggest factor in how a family actually uses the third row.

Which used Lincoln Aviator year is the best fit?

The best used Aviator year depends on what you need. Choose a 2020 or 2021 V6 with the Class IV package for maximum towing, a 2020 through 2024 Grand Touring for a plug-in hybrid, or a 2025 or newer model for standard BlueCruise and the latest interior technology.

Choose a 2020 or 2021 if towing comes first

These are the only Aviators rated at 6,700 lb, as long as the vehicle has the Class IV Trailer Tow Package. Confirm the package by VIN.

Choose a 2020 through 2024 Grand Touring for a plug-in hybrid

The Grand Touring is the only plug-in hybrid Aviator, and it was not offered for 2025.

Choose a 2025 or newer for the latest technology

The 2025 refresh made BlueCruise hands-free highway driving standard, a first for the Aviator. It also added a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.4-inch digital cluster, plus the current Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label trims. On 2025 models, Lincoln included four years of BlueCruise hands-free driving from the original purchase, so ask how much of that term remains on any specific vehicle.

Why do Kansas City buyers shop for a used Aviator in Gower?

Dennis Sneed Ford is one of the Top 5 Ford remarketing dealers in the country, buying 1,100+ late-model Ford and Lincoln vehicles directly from Ford each year. That volume puts a deep selection of late-model Lincolns, including Aviators, on one lot about 45 minutes north of Kansas City on US-169.

Dennis Sneed Ford is a Ford dealership, not a Lincoln franchise. Our Lincolns come to us through Ford's own remarketing channel, typically as late-model off-lease or executive vehicles. Roughly 60% of our business comes from the Kansas City metro, and St. Joseph shoppers are roughly 30 minutes north of us via US-169.

Shopping a used Lincoln at a Ford store raises fair questions about certification and coverage. Our used Lincoln SUV and sedan guide for Kansas City shoppers covers those options in detail.

More Lincoln research from Dennis Sneed Ford

Where is Dennis Sneed Ford?

Dennis Sneed Ford is at 1046 S.W. Highway 169, Gower, MO 64454, about 45 minutes north of Kansas City and roughly 30 minutes south of St. Joseph via US-169. Call sales at 816-409-1975.

Because used inventory changes often, call ahead to confirm a specific Aviator is still available before you make the drive.

Specifications are based on manufacturer information for each model year and vary by trim, drivetrain, and installed equipment. Features and ratings on a specific used vehicle should be confirmed by VIN with our sales team. Towing ratings assume a properly equipped vehicle. BlueCruise availability and service plan terms vary by vehicle. Dennis Sneed Ford is a Ford dealership and is not a Lincoln franchise. All vehicles are subject to prior sale.