2020 Lincoln Aviator Returns Higher Highway MPG

Lincoln will release the 2020 Aviator late this summer, which means you will find the SUV in dealerships soon enough. Meanwhile, the luxury car brand has revealed official EPA fuel economy figures for the entry-level model of its new-gen Aviator.

It packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that helps return fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city, 26 highway, and 21 combined when paired with rear-wheel drive. These ratings are very close to rivals such as the Acura MDX (19, 26, 22 mpg), Volvo XC90 T6 (19, 26, 22 mpg), and Audi Q7 (19, 25, 21 mpg). As for the all-wheel drive 2020 Aviator, the ratings are 17, 24 and 20 mpg.

What makes the Aviator significantly superior to its rivals is its V6 engine that puts out 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, compared to 290 hp and 267 lb-ft for the naturally aspirated V6 MDX, 316 hp and 295 lb-ft for the twin-charged XC90 T6, and 329 hp and 325 lb-ft for the supercharged Q7. All variants of the 2020 Aviator comes with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

Pricing information for the new midsize SUV has been revealed last January. It starts from $52,195 including delivery fee. This is another point that makes the 2020 Aviator excel over competitors, thanks to its lower price. However, the new Lincoln is still a luxury car, so optional features can push it up to the sky.

If you want to buy the range-topping Black Label Grand Touring with all option boxes checked, you will have to pay more than $90,000. The top-of-the-line model is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain churning out 450 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. For now, there’s no word yet on fuel economy for the plug-in hybrid version, but it will be announced later this summer when the launch date is close.