2003 Lincoln Aviator Kitty Hawk Edition Review
SEE ALSO: Lincoln Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Lincoln hit a home run with its full-sized Navigator. If it wasn't the first full-sized luxury sport-utility, the Navigator was the one that seriously jump-started growth in the class. It also jump-started Lincoln sales. How to follow such a success? With more of the same, of course. And so Lincoln now has the mid-sized Aviator. In looks and in character it is very much a smaller sibling to the second-generation 2003 Navigator. Offered with rear- or all-wheel drive, the Aviator features fully-independent suspension for luxury sedan comfort and handling and a 302-horsepower V8 engine for effortless cruising. That strength has other uses, too. With the optional Class III trailering package, towing capacity is at the head of the mid-sized luxury SUV class at 7100 lbs for all-wheel drive models and 7300 lbs for rear-drive versions. The Aviator's two standard trim levels tell all: ``Luxury'' and ``Premium.'' As is necessary for success in the luxury class, it is sumptuously and comprehensively equipped, and options like a DVD-based navigation system and DVD-based rear seat entertainment system give it parity with the competition. Useable interior space puts it ahead of the competition, with a choice of second-row captain's chairs or a 40/20/40 split bench, and a standard third-row seat that can actually hold real adults in comfort. And if ``Premium'' isn't premium enough, there is the limited- production ``Kitty Hawk Edition.'' Ford Motor Company is 100 years old in 2003, and 2003 is the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first successful powered flight, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The vehicle name is Aviator, which leads to the Kitty Hawk Edition, the official vehicle of the Experimental Aircraft Association's ``Countdown to Kitty Hawk'' celebration. It is, like Henry's Model T, available in any color you want as long as it's black, and features unique exterior and interior trim and badging on top of the Premium-level specification. One has been my transportation for the past week. I've been surprised and impressed by its power and competence on the road and its excellent interior design, spaciousness, and comfort. With trucks like this, there is no wonder that an increasing number of luxury cars are trucks. APPEARANCE: Set up an Aviator the correct distance in front of a current Navigator so that they look the same size and you will be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two. Did someone in the design department just bring up the Navigator plans on the CAD machine and press the ``smaller'' button? The gently-rounded two- box SUV shape becomes Lincoln courtesy of a large, bold chrome- trimmed grille and bulging hood with a small clerestory strip down the center. Integrated bumpers with foglamps merge with the line of the wheel arches and side cladding. The taillights say ``Navigator'' as well. Befitting the Aviator's luxury and pavement-oriented nature, running boards are standard fare. The Kitty Hawk Edition is, as mentioned, monochrome black, and its discreet special badging features the Wright Flyer. COMFORT: The Aviator's interior combines shapes from Lincoln's heritage with contemporary design and trim for a fresh, youthful, and original look. The Kitty Hawk Edition features black leather seats, embroidered floor mats, and mink zebrano wood trim. Depending on configuration, second row bench or buckets, there really is room for up to seven people. Unlike most other mid-sized SUVs, the Aviator's third-row bench has enough leg and head room so that two occupants will still be friendly after time spent there, and three are possible. The third-row seat folds flat when not needed. My test vehicle had second-row buckets, which flip and fold for easy third-row access. The dual-level second row center console adds passenger convenience but detracts from cargo ability - but Aviator owners can use a rather large trailer (7000-plus lbs worth) if serious cargo is necessary. Why mess up the interior? If fitted, the DVD entertainment system is easily viewed from the second and third rows. Up front, the driver and front passenger get very comfortable heated and cooled bucket seats. The perfect driving position can be easily found thanks to good adjustability plus the tilt-adjustable wood-and-leather steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals. Backlit instruments are easily visible in any lighting. My Aviator had the optional DVD navigation system. The screen can be hidden behind a flip-down panel, and the six-disc CD changer is behind the LCD nav system screen. That sort of space utilization extends to the many storage spaces in the cabin. SAFETY: Safety features of the Lincoln Aviator include the ``Personal Safety System''(tm) of dual-stage air bags, safety belt pretensioners, and load-limiting retractors, the ``Safety Canopy''(tm) side curtain air bags, and the optional ``AdvanceTrac''(tm) stability enhancement system. ; ROADABILITY: The Aviator has truck-standard body-on-frame construction, but you'd never know that from the driving experience. Both the frame and body structures are very rigid, and a fully- independent suspension dispatches any hint of truck origins. Other than the high-eyepoint driver's perspective from its height, the Aviator could be a contemporary American luxury sedan in its ride and handling, with a smooth, moderately firm and well-damped ride and good handling considering its high center of gravity. A relatively small turning circle makes maneuvering and parking easy. PERFORMANCE: A sports car engine in a sport-utility? Believe it. The specs for the Aviator's dual overhead cam, aluminum alloy V8 don't tell the whole story. While 302 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 3250 rpm are impressive, the power delivery and excellent five-speed automatic transmission are what make it work, and work well. There is plenty of torque right from a standstill, useful for both traffic and towing, and no shortage as engine and vehicle speed increase. Acceleration and merging are absolutely no problem, and when it comes time to stop, large four- wheel antilock discs do the job. CONCLUSIONS: Luxury comfort meets strength in the Lincoln Aviator. SPECIFICATIONS 2003 Lincoln Aviator Kitty Hawk Edition Base Price $ 45,125 Price As Tested $ 54,635 Engine Type dual overhead cam 32-valve aluminum alloy V8 Engine Size 4.6 liters / 281 cu. in. Horsepower 302 @ 5750 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 300 @ 3250 rpm Transmission 5-speed automatic Wheelbase / Length 113.7 in. / 193.3 in. Curb Weight 5002 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 16.6 Fuel Capacity 22.5 gal. Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline Tires P245/65 SR17 Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent short-and-long arm with coil springs / independent short-and-long arm with toe link, coil springs Ground clearance 8.6 in. Drivetrain front engine, all-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 13 / 18 / 14 0 to 60 mph est. 8.5 sec Towing capacity (class III) 7100 lbs OPTIONS AND CHARGES Power moonroof and medium overhead console $ 1,595 Kitty Hawk Edition - includes: 17-inch chrome wheels, tire pressure monitoring system, special trim $ 2,295 Class III trailer towing package $ 295 Navigation system package - includes: navigation system, steering wheel, and mirror $ 2,495 Interactive vehicle dynamics $ 795 DVD entertainment system $ 1,295 Destination charge $ 740