Auto review: Lincoln's renewal takes flight with the 2020 Aviator

If you remember your high school prom, you’ll remember that when one girl went to the bathroom, all of her friends went with her. Car designers are much the same way, which explains why so many cars wear exterior styling that resembles a Kabuki mask, while most instrument panels have the feel of a video game controller.

This even extends to luxury cars, where the sense of adolescent design robs interiors of any sophistication — you wonder if there are any adults overseeing design at many automakers.

That’s what makes the new 2020 Lincoln Aviator a welcome relief.

Using a name last seen in 2005 on a rebadged Mercury Mountaineer, the newest Aviator replaces the ungainly MKT, Lincoln’s rotund three-row luxury crossover that will live on for the time being as a fleet vehicle for limousine and car service use. Its replacement, the Aviator, is far more remarkable.

Looking somewhat like a Navigator that’s been left in the dryer too long, the 2020 Aviator wears crisp lines offset by a sporty sloping roof and distinctive Lincoln grille. It’s urbane and elegant, like the finest Lincolns of yore.

Inside, you’ll find three rows of seats and enough legroom for real adults, as well as generous headroom, despite the sloping roofline. The unabashed extravagance of its interior is much like the larger and pricier Navigator, imparting the same feeling of opulence. And it’s not just the lavish accents or plush leather; it’s the little touches that make living with this Lincoln more manageable.

Of course, the second row comes with its own climate controls and USB ports, and the seats can be had as captain’s chairs rather than a second row bench seat. But there are other touches that go beyond what you might expect, like an app that can be configured to act like your key fob, so you can leave the fob at home. Or the simple row of automatic transmission buttons that are easily reachable but tucked out of the way to free up space elsewhere in the interior. There’s even a configurable electronic instrument cluster, not to mention the easiest version of Ford’s Sync infotainment system yet devised.

When it comes time to move, most 2020 Lincoln Aviators have a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 generating 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. But if you want to experience true automotive nirvana, pop for the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid instead, with the same 3.0-liter V-6 mated to an electric driveline that produces 494 horsepower and a mammoth 630 pound-feet of torque. Both drivelines mate to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

In reality, this is the classic American luxury cruiser, large, in charge and oozing with comfort and power. Yes, the standard model with the gas-powered-engine and steel spring suspension is excellent, furnishing effortless power without the noise and fuss too typical of powerful vehicles these days. You feel the engine’s power, but you don’t hear it.

Yet as it good as it is, nothing prepares you for how much better the hybrid proves to be. Engineered with an eye to performance as well as fuel economy, the hybrid proves to be the Aviator truly worth piloting. It’s the strong silent type, easily furnishing instant torque with the silent efficiency you’d expect from a hybrid, yet doing it so effortlessly, you won’t mind keeping your right foot planted to the floor.