Power is as important as comfort for luxury vehicles, and the 2026 Lincoln Aviator offers both thanks to its single powertrain option. Below, we’re outlining everything you need to know about said powertrain, which is standard on all three 2026 Aviator trims.
Like the 2025 model year luxury crossover before it, the 2026 Lincoln Aviator cradles the twin-turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine. Under the hood of the luxury crossover, that powerhouse is rated to produce a healthy and sporty 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to the marque’s 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator can be configured with standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) for a premium.
That 3.0L V6 engine has been a staple of the Aviator line since the crossover’s 2020 model year. Initially, it was offered alongside the hybrid 3.0L V6 powertrain, which paired that gasoline burning engine with a plug-in hybrid electric battery and motor. This configuration was exclusively available for Grand Touring trimmed models, but it was discontinued after the 2023 model year and has not returned. In a similar vein, the Aviator’s platform mate, the Ford Explorer, also killed its V6 hybrid powertrain after the 2024 model year.
However, Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted that the Explorer is in line to get an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) variant – an electric vehicle with a small onboard gasoline motor to help charge the battery. Should that tech make it to the Explorer, it would stand to reason that the Aviator would get it, too.
Speaking of the Explorer – the three-row crossover dropped its Panoramic Vista Roof, but thankfully, the 2026 Lincoln Aviator is keeping the feature intact. Additionally, the luxury crossover is much more affordable than it was for the 2025 model year. Steep price cuts mean the entry level Premier trim starts at $56,910, making it $2,385 less expensive than the same trim was for the 2025 model year, leaving plenty of wiggle room in its buyers’ budgets for its host of optional packages.
A special edition color now gone.
The faulty units may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing a short circuit.
A very cool sort of one-off build.
A quirky car for a quirky race.
It's one of just 35 built in total.
