2021 Lincoln Aviator Interior

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator has a mostly high-end cabin full of sumptuous materials such as real wood or metal accents. Bolstering its interior appeal are a huge cargo hold and a straightforward infotainment system. Seating space is good overall, although the third row is better left for kids.

• "From the fit and finish, seat comfort, customizable technology, optional Black Label design packages, and extraordinary Revel sound system on offer, there is little left to be desired in the Aviator’s cabin." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The materials and color themes are all top notch with premium leather coverings combining a choice of wood or metal accents." -- Forbes (2020)
• "Now, the switchgear and some plastics aren't exactly up to Audi, Mercedes or even Volvo snuff, but the disparity isn't so great that its inherent style can't close the gap." -- Autoblog (2020)

Cargo

The Aviator has 18.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row. That’s impressive for a luxury midsize SUV. Also commendable are its 41.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row and total of 77.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. In addition to all that space, there are lots of places to store personal belongings inside the cabin. A power liftgate is standard, and a hands-free liftgate is available.

• "… there's plenty of room behind the third row for four kids' backpacks, sports bags, and then some." -- Car and Driver (2020)
• "The Aviator is big on the inside, which results in plenty of cargo capacity." -- Edmunds (2020)
• "It's also important to note that the Aviator is also more functional than most. The center console has multiple bins with multiple places to store and charge your smartphone. The door pockets are large." -- Autoblog (2020)

Seating

Six or seven people can sit in the Aviator, depending on whether you get a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs. Heated and 10-way power-adjustable front seats come standard, as does synthetic leather upholstery.

A bevy of seating upgrades is available. These include genuine leather upholstery, 12- or 30-way power-adjustable front seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, ventilated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. Soft-closing doors are offered too.

The first two rows have copious amounts of room, even for taller occupants. The third row is a bit tighter, and while it can hold adults comfortably for short trips, it's better left for kids. Some critics find the seats to be comfortable, but others note that they’re too narrow and that the second-row captain’s chairs could use more thigh support.

For installing child safety seats, there are four complete sets of LATCH connectors for the outboard seats in both rear rows. All of the tether anchors can be confused for other hardware, but otherwise the setup is easy to use.

• "Occupants in the first two rows have no shortage of stretching-out space. The third row, not so much, but it’s fine for children." -- Autotrader
• "Seats are highly adjustable and comfortable, and there’s plenty of space even for taller passengers. The third row offers room for adult legs when the second row is fully forward." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The seats are supportive, but their narrow design hurts overall comfort; even with their many adjustments, it took me a while to find an acceptable driving position. I've been more comfortable in seats with far fewer adjustments, proving once again that more isn't always better. Like the front bucket seats, the available second-row captain's chairs are also on the small side. The chairs slide and recline, but they don't offer much thigh support, which compromises comfort. The Aviator's two-person third-row seat is even less accommodating for adults. Headroom is decent but legroom is limited, and you sit with your knees uncomfortably elevated. Taller adults could fit back there in a pinch, but it's really designed for smaller passengers." -- Cars.com (2020)

Interior Features

Standard in the Aviator is the SYNC3 infotainment system. It comes with a 10.1-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Bluetooth, four USB ports, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker stereo.

The SYNC 3 system is one of the most intuitive on the market. The touch screen is large and well-placed, making it easy to see and operate while driving, and it responds quickly to inputs. There are also plenty of knobs and buttons for controlling climate and audio settings.

You’ll also get standard remote start, proximity keyless entry, and tri-zone automatic climate control. Several features are available, such as navigation, a 14- or 28-speaker Revel stereo, two rear-seat USB ports, HD Radio, a rear-seat entertainment system, wireless device charging, quad-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof.

Standard safety features include a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and Lincoln’s MyKey, which lets you do things like set speed and audio volume limits for secondary drivers.

More driver aids are available. These include reverse automatic emergency braking, parallel and perpendicular park assist, a surround-view parking camera system, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control.

See 2021 Lincoln Aviator specs »

• "The Aviator's equipment list is stuffed with driver-assistance and connectivity features just as you'd find in any other modern luxury vehicle. What sets the Lincoln apart is that the tech is unpretentious and easy to use. The piano-key gear selector, a no-gimmicks touchscreen, physical climate controls, and the ability to use your phone as a key create a luxury experience with no learning curve." -- Car and Driver (2020)
• "Ahead of the driver is a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and in the middle of the dashboard -- sticking out like a sore thumb -- is a large, 10-inch touchscreen. It's the most awkwardly placed element of the Aviator's interior design, but at least it's a high quality screen with bright colors and crispy graphics. The placement also makes it easy to reach all four corners without much of a stretch. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard via USB connectivity. However, the Sync software is so good that I didn't feel obligated to immediately connect my phone." -- CNET (2020)
• "The large infotainment screen stands straight up at almost eye level, and its icons are large and easy to accurately poke while driving. The radio offers welcome knobs for volume and tune/scroll plus hard buttons for Source and Seek (we could use a couple more), and the HVAC control set below it is nicely arranged with a central fan knob and toggles for cabin temperatures." -- Truck Trend (2020)