2004 Lincoln Aviator Philadelphia

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2004 Lincoln Aviator Power

Aviators with AdvanceTrac come with a more sophisticated electronic system that operates in rear-wheel drive most of the time, but can use a clutch pack to send up to 100 percent of the driving torque to the front wheels if conditions warrant. Since AdvanceTrac can also shift driving torque from one side of the vehicle to the other, Aviators with AWD and AdvanceTrac can theoretically keep rolling as long as one of the four wheels has traction.

Lincoln expects the majority of Aviators to be ordered with all-wheel drive. Two different all-wheel drive systems are used, depending on whether AdvanceTrac is also specified. Both systems are designed more for inclement weather than off-road driving. Neither requires action by the driver to engage. All-wheel-drive Aviators without AdvanceTrac use a permanently engaged system that normally sends 35 percent of the engine's torque to the front wheels and 65 percent to the rear. A viscous coupling between the front and rear axles engages when necessary for added traction.

    

2004 Lincoln Aviator Design

The Aviator shares its basic structure with the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, both of which were re-engineered for 2002. The Aviator is more than just a re-badged Explorer, however. For starters, the Aviator is slightly longer and wider than the Explorer. It uses the Explorer's independent rear suspension, a design more common on luxury cars than trucks, to improve ride quality and allow room underneath for the third seat to fold flat into the floor. The Aviator's suspension has been specially tuned, and lightweight components have been substituted, for improved on-pavement ride.

Like the Navigator, the Aviator sports a generous application of chrome trim, from the grille to the roof rack to the rear license plate holder. Aviator wears the same chrome-framed waterfall grille as the Navigator, though it looks somewhat less imposing in the Aviator's smaller size. The Aviator comes with truck-like running boards, which are a necessity for short-legged passengers.

    

     Driving the 2004 Lincoln Aviator

Aviators with AdvanceTrac also feature Roll Stability Control, which uses a gyroscopic sensor to monitor body roll angle and roll rate (in other words, how much the Aviator is leaning in a turn). Roll Stability Control works with AdvanceTrac to determine if the possibility of a rollover might exist, and reduces engine power and/or applies the brakes to help regain stability. The enhanced system was initially added to 2WD models, but late-model AWD models with AdvanceTrac will also get Roll Stability Control.

The optional AdvanceTrac electronic stability control system  monitors the position of the Aviator's steering wheel, the speed the wheels and tires are turning, the rate at which the vehicle is turning (yaw), and how hard it is cornering (lateral acceleration). If AdvanceTrac decides that the Aviator isn't doing what the driver intends, the system applies the brakes at one or more wheels to correct the vehicle's path. An example of this would be entering a corner too fast, then hitting a patch of wet leaves halfway through the turn; the system would detect the front tires have lost grip and would compensate to try to keep the vehicle from sliding off the edge of the road. The driver need only keep her cool and continue steering (and looking) in the direction she wants to go.

    

2004 Lincoln Aviator Cabin

Aviator comes standard with three rows of seats. The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive. In the second row, Aviator buyers have a choice, for which there is no difference in price. They can select a three-way split bench that seats three, or bucket seats for two. The bucket seats come with a hefty center console nearly identical to the one between the front bucket seats. Either way, the second-row seats fold and tumble forward for access to the third row. The third-row bench sits low and is most suitable for children. It folds flat into the floor manually. Aviator has a two-piece liftgate like the Explorer, with a flip-up windowpositioned at the height of a shopping cart for loading groceries without lifting the entire hatch.

The most distinctive touch in the interior is the pewter-colored satin-nickel finish used on the center dashboard and shifter surround. Another distinguishing feature is a small panel that pulls down to hide the audio system. It is finished in the same satin-nickel color. You won't forget what you are driving when you close it, as its cover spells out Lincoln. The clock in the center of the dash, with delicate gold hands and numbers, resembles an expensive watch. This clock design is becoming a signature feature in Lincolns.

    

Conclusion

Aviator seats six or seven people. It's smoother and more comfortable than the Ford Explorer and most other mid-size SUVs. Its V8 delivers good power. And the available combination of AdvanceTrac stability control and all-wheel drive provides excellent traction and control in icy conditions.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com