Years ago, I owned an Audi A6 Allroad. It was a 2003 model, if I recall correctly, and I adored it despite its seemingly endless mechanical faults. It offered the chic style and lower-slung road dynamics of a station wagon with the all-terrain capability and muscular power of an SUV, thanks to height-adjustable air suspension, a twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drive, and a finely appointed interior. So when I picked up the keys to my 2026 Lincoln Aviator Reserve tester, knowing it had many of the same key ingredients that made my Allroad feel so special, I wondered if I'd end up falling in love with it the same way. In the end, though, reality wasn't so black-and-white.Though I grew quite fond of the Lincoln, I came to adore it in different ways than I loved my Allroad, but I also became annoyed by things that might otherwise have been dealbreakers in the Allroad. Doing "luxury" the right way clearly isn't as simple as using the correct ingredients. A week around Vancouver, British Columbia, and some time on its picturesque Sea-to-Sky Highway helped explain the distinction.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaSpecification2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveEngineTwin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6Published output383 hp in the U.S.; 400 hp in Canada; 415 lb-ft in both marketsTransmission10-speed automaticDrivetrainAll-wheel drive; rear-wheel drive also available in the U.S.Suspension as testedAir Glide air suspension, included in the optional Dynamic Handling PackageWheels and tires as tested22-inch wheels; 275/40R22 tiresSeating as testedSix; second-row captain's chairs with a full center consoleCargo behind third/second/first row16.5/39.9/75.9 cubic feetBase AWD curb weight4,862 poundsEPA fuel economy, AWD17 mpg city, 25 highway, and 20 combinedObserved mixed fuel economy16.2 U.S. mpg, equivalent to 14.5 L/100 kmU.S. Reserve starting MSRP$66,730 with RWD, before destination and optionsU.S. Reserve AWD starting price$70,925, including destinationCanadian price as testedC$101,320, including C$2,595 destination, before taxExterior/interior as testedRed Carpet Metallic Tinted Clearcoat/Hot Chocolate leatherU.S. and Canadian specifications are identified separately because Lincoln currently publishes different horsepower ratings, likely as a result of stricter CARB (California Air Resources Board) rules. The Canadian test price comes from the supplied window sticker.Thinking about selling your car? Get an instant cash offer online now. Click here to get started.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaPowertrain & Driving Experience — 8.5/10: Smoother Than Its Ford Roots SuggestThe Aviator's most convincing luxury feature is its dynamic calibration. Having tested the Ford Explorer Tremor with the same basic twin-turbo V6 architecture earlier this year, I immediately noticed the Lincoln's smoother throttle response, braking, shifts, and steering. Shared hardware still leaves plenty of room for different personalities. The accelerator delivers power progressively, disguising much of the hesitation I might otherwise associate with turbocharging. The 10-speed automatic, which can feel clumsy in some Ford applications, shifts almost seamlessly here. Together, they make it remarkably easy to appear a smoother driver than you really are.I have spent hours being shuttled around in Aviators during press programs, including a two-hour trip from Sedona to Phoenix, and driving one myself helped explain why those journeys felt so polished. The SUV makes considerate driving feel natural, while retaining ample power for passing and the occasional spirited detour. Its Air Glide suspension system, included in the optional Dynamic Handling Package, tells a more complicated story. Wavy pavement produces an excellent ride, but sharp bumps and broken city surfaces compromise that composure. Its more valuable achievement became apparent on the Sea-to-Sky: body roll built up more progressively, lateral movement felt better managed, and passengers experienced less tossing that can make winding roads unpleasant. The system never disguises the Aviator's substantial weight, but it does make that weight easier to manage. That comfort contribution is perhaps as important as bump cushioning.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaNormal-mode steering feels vague and rather boatlike, but the sportier Excite setting provides a more reassuring sense of control. The V6's coarse, workhorse soundtrack lacks the sweetness of my Allroad's 2.7-liter engine, although I appreciated that it never tried to impersonate a V8 with pumped-in engine noises, as the Navigator does. My week's roughly even city/highway mix returned 14.5 L/100 km, or about 16.2 U.S. mpg, so smoothness doesn't make this a particularly economical SUV.Shopping for a new car? Click here to get a great deal on your next vehicle. Powered by Carvana: no-haggle pricing, 100% online.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaTechnology & Infotainment — 7.5/10: Great Sound, Too Many MenusThe 13.2-inch touchscreen runs Lincoln Digital Experience and supports Google apps and services. Its software is current, but the presentation feels far less ambitious than the Navigator's sweeping dashboard display. Positioned near the dashboard's edge and angled away from the driver, it also creates an awkward sightline. Everyday climate adjustments were straightforward, but accessing the massage seats was another matter: multiple menus led to seat settings, followed by separate controls for each front occupant. A feature intended to make life easier should be easier to activate. The Auto Hold function also requires menu navigation, although it remembered my preference between starts.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaThe optional 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D system provides a much stronger argument for spending the extra dough. Its listening modes noticeably changed the presentation, shifting the perceived perspective from the audience toward the stage. Alongside the seats, it was among the cabin's most memorable premium features. BlueCruise worked well on Highway 99, although unpredictable lane changes and heavy traffic kept me more comfortable holding the wheel. Separately, Reverse Brake Assist sometimes intervened abruptly during slow parking maneuvers. That behavior felt at odds with the otherwise polished controls.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole Attisha2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaExterior Design — 8.0/10: Plenty Of Flash, Not Enough IdentityThe Aviator's trouble is that its styling makes plenty of gestures without establishing much identity. My tester's illuminated details, oversized black wheels, and Jet Appearance Package added visual drama, but from a distance the whole shape felt fairly generic. At certain angles, it struck me as some sort of Range Rover minivan type thing. The reference is recognizable; the Lincoln's own personality is harder to find. It lacks the Genesis GV80's distinctive lighting and bodywork, and it never quite achieves the understated confidence of the Audi Allroad. My tester's Red Carpet paint over Hot Chocolate upholstery may have amplified the problem for my tastes; the combination seemed determined to be a candy apple and a caramel apple at the same time. Others may appreciate its richness, but I wanted a specification that let the proportions speak without so much decoration.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaInterior & Comfort — 7.5/10: Business Class With Ford FoundationsThe available 30-way Perfect Position seats are both a highlight and a test of patience. I kept searching for the ideal setting, occasionally wondering whether so much adjustment creates as many questions as it answers. The independent thigh extenders, plus effective massage, heating, and ventilation, nevertheless make them genuinely useful. Friends and family who rode inside also found the heated, ventilated second-row captain's chairs and full console impressive. Entry and exit were easy, and space was generous, though getting in and out of the third row can be a tricky ordeal without a central pass-through.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole Attisha2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaA closer look revealed less convincing materials and lower control points. Lincoln has dressed up the cabin nicely, but its Ford foundations remain apparent. Sitting in the back, I occasionally felt only a few sheets of leather and some armrests away from the rear of an Explorer police SUV, but the actual passenger experience was far more accommodating. The cabin feels like business class, but more United Polaris than Emirates. It offers the equipment and space, but falls short of the atmosphere and finish that make the best luxury interiors feel exceptional. The GV80 makes a stronger impression in both respects. Smaller irritations included awkward electronic door handle mechanisms that often pinched fingers, and what looked like early wear on the front-seat leather. Details like these are harder to overlook when the vehicle's sole purpose is to elevate ordinary experiences.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole Attisha2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaValue — 7.5/10: Paying For Polish, Still Wanting PersonalityA U.S. Reserve AWD starts at $70,925, including destination. My Canadian tester reached C$101,320 with Equipment Group 201A, Dynamic Handling, Jet Appearance, the rear console, and smaller additions. Those are separate markets and currencies, but the overall equipment package remains very similar. The seats, audio, and controlled driving character make that spending feel tangible, and its rear-biased architecture and twin-turbo V6 also appeal to me more than the foundations beneath the Lexus TX or Infiniti QX60, but buyers paying for a luxury SUV can reasonably expect distinctive design and exceptional materials alongside capable engineering. The Aviator's challenge is that its strongest qualities become clearer after you drive it, while its weaker ones hit you every time you climb aboard.Lincoln Aviator ConfigurationLincoln CanadaHow I'd Spec It: A Cooler, More Understated CombinationTrying out a new bit here, but here's how I'd spec a 2026 Lincoln Aviator Reserve if I were configuring one for my own purchase. I would choose Whisper Blue Metallic with Light Space Gray and Onyx upholstery, and the Jet Appearance Package would suit that cooler, more understated combination better than my tester's red-and-brown. The Perfect Position seats and Revel audio would remain priorities because they add real value, but I'd skip the second-row center console for easier third-row access. The value of the Air Glide Suspension with Dynamic Lower Entry depends on the roads you actually drive, but at C$3,750, I'd opt for the standard suspension, which will likely lead to fewer mechanical complications further down the road. In that configuration, with the Reserve (201A) package and Jet Appearance package, and without the Dynamic Handling Package and Full Rear Console with Smart Charging Ports, the 2026 Lincoln Aviator Reserve lands just under C$100,000 in Canada, including destination charges. That's how I'd have it.2026 Lincoln Aviator ReserveCole AttishaOverall Verdict — 7.8/10: Familiar Ingredients Without The Same AffectionAfter everything, I believe that I fell "in like" with the Aviator. Its familiar ingredients produce a strong package: abundant power, unusually smooth controls, accommodating seats, and suspension that helps a large SUV remain composed through bends. I would happily take another long journey in one, particularly from a second-row captain's chair. But my Allroad had an identity I could recognize and forgive; it transcended the sum of its parts. Its appearance, packaging, and mechanical character expressed a coherent purpose. The Aviator's purpose feels less personal, even though it performs many of its duties more effortlessly.Luxury asks a vehicle to do more than execute those duties. The design, materials, and experience need to make ownership feel worthwhile and emotionally compelling beyond the spec sheet. Lincoln shows genuine skill in the Aviator's calibration, but the cabin and exterior leave me wishing for the same persuasive sense of artistry and craftsmanship. That's why I appreciated this Lincoln without necessarily wanting to own it myself. My Allroad made me overlook faults because I loved the whole car, but while I admired the familiar recipe in the Aviator, I still couldn't help but notice what was missing.