We drove the Lincoln Aviator Reserve a couple of years ago and without a doubt it was our all-time favourite SUV – maybe even best vehicle ever! A couple of years have passed and quite by accident we got the keys to the 2022 version. This would be a good time to confirm our viewpoint or change it… Will we still love it and rave about it or will it be a one of those “it was terrific at the time, but now, not so much.” Let’s find out….
Having driven the 2020 Ford Explorer a few times this year, although I liked it, I certainly didn’t love it. Truth be told the Hyundai Palisade did it so much better, and for less money. When I picked up the key fob for the Lincoln Aviator Reserve I was thinking it might be equal to the Palisade – but with an even bigger price bump than the Explorer. Two minutes behind the wheel and I knew right away my preconceptions were wrong, oh so wrong.
What happens when the Ford/Lincoln designers forget that they don’t work for BMW/Mercedes? They create vehicles like the 2020 Lincoln Corsair. I’m serious – this Corsair feels and drives just like a BMW/Mercedes. Remove the badges and no one would be able to tell the difference on the inside – especially if you blindfolded them and sat them in the front seats. Ford have really stepped up their game with the Lincoln lineup. No longer is it just a tiny bit more luxurious than the Ford equivalent – it’s a completely different vehicle! They share the platform, but that’s it – everything else is luxury dialed up to 11, but DO NOT call it a grandpa’s Lincoln with thoughts of floaty suspension and overly boosted power steering – those days are thankfully long gone.
The Lincoln Continental is an iconic piece of American automotive history. Once upon a time, anyone that wanted to prove that they had “made it” would buy one (or the Cadillac Fleetwood). Presidents and dignitaries HAD to be seen in them, many were stretched even longer and bulletproofing them was a major industry too. If you wanted a humongous status symbol with a floaty ride and zero cornering ability above 25 km/h – this was your car. But then people discovered the Europeans were building cars that were superior, could corner and handle in a way the Caddy and Lincoln could only dream about. By the mid-80’s only grandpas and stretch limo companies wanted these cars. So why are we testing one here? Why should anyone still be interested in a Lincoln Continental – especially in 2020? Well, believe-it-or-not the Continental is back – smaller, nimble, fast and yes… relevant in 2020. Put your preconceived notions aside and check it out…
Road-Test.org 