Used 2021 Lincoln Aviator for Sale near Illinois

How much does the 2021 Lincoln Aviator cost?

Prices have softened 14.40% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,215 listings available, which gives you a meaningful amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Lincoln Aviator earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7.8/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, luxurious feel, powerful performance, and spacious, well-designed interior. That lines up with the Aviator’s role as a premium three-row SUV that aims to feel more upscale than many rivals.

The trade-offs are the cramped third row, sluggish touchscreen response, and the fact that advanced safety features are not standard. Even so, if you want a refined family SUV with a strong luxury lean, the Aviator fits that brief well.

Only 33.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so the market still rewards careful shopping.

Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owner feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable in daily use, with repeated praise for comfort, a well-designed cabin, and strong overall satisfaction over the long term. The expert evaluation also emphasizes the Aviator’s solid build quality and confident, composed character.

Lincoln’s standard maintenance coverage adds some ownership reassurance, and the plug-in hybrid’s electric range can help reduce fuel use for shorter trips. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that higher-end features and complex systems can be costly if prior maintenance was neglected.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Lincoln Aviator?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 81% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a vehicle history report on any listing you like, because accident-free status does not replace a full records check. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a higher-mileage example or one with more advanced equipment. Focus on cabin condition, touchscreen behavior, and how well the vehicle’s comfort and convenience features work in real use.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Standard trim comes with synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, remote start, and a power liftgate. The Reserve adds 12-way power-adjustable front seats, upgraded leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, a hands-free power liftgate, second-row captain's chairs, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system. The Grand Touring adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and the Elements Package Plus, which brings a heated steering wheel plus heated and ventilated front seats. The Black Label adds the Convenience and Luxury packages as standard equipment, including a head-up display, wireless device charging, a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, and heated, ventilated, massaging front seats. The Black Label Grand Touring adds a Dynamic Handling Package and nearly every optional feature as standard.
• Powertrain: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims use a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label use the same twin-turbo V6 in plug-in hybrid form, with 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, plus up to 21 miles of electric range when fully charged.
• Safety package: The standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The available Co-Pilot 360 Plus package adds reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control that can stop and go with traffic.
• Infotainment: You get a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen with Sync 3, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also benefits from redundant controls in the center stack, and the available head-up display adds another layer of convenience.
• Fuel efficiency: The RWD model returns 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined. The AWD version returns 17 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. The plug-in hybrid is rated at 56 MPGe and can travel up to 21 miles on electric power.

Which 2021 Lincoln Aviator trim should I buy?

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator is offered in 5 trim levels: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Standard: This is the entry point, but it still gives you a strong luxury baseline with synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, remote start, and a power liftgate. If you want the lowest-cost way into the Aviator, this is the trim to start with.
• Reserve: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds upgraded leather, four-zone climate control, second-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system. It feels like the trim where the Aviator’s luxury identity becomes much more obvious.
• Grand Touring: Choose this if you want the plug-in hybrid powertrain and the added equipment that comes with it, including adaptive headlights and the Elements Package Plus. It suits you best if performance and electrified driving matter more than keeping the purchase price down.
• Black Label: This trim layers on the Convenience and Luxury packages as standard equipment, including a head-up display, wireless device charging, a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, and massaging front seats. It is the right pick if you want the most upscale cabin experience without going all the way to the top hybrid model.
• Black Label Grand Touring: This is the most fully equipped version, combining the plug-in hybrid setup with the Black Label equipment and a Dynamic Handling Package. It makes sense if you want the most complete Aviator and are willing to pay for it.

The standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package gives you a solid safety baseline, while Co-Pilot 360 Plus is available on higher trims.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Lincoln Aviator?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but should move quickly on strong listings.

• Deal availability: 33.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,215 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 14.40% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 81.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,720, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator's resale value?

The current average of $29,720 sits slightly below last year's $34,719.

That decline suggests the Aviator has become more affordable on the used market, which can help you as a buyer but may pressure resale returns for current owners. If you plan to sell later, the softer pricing trend means you should expect a more competitive market than a year ago. Well-kept examples with desirable equipment should still hold up better than neglected ones, especially if they present as clean, well-optioned luxury SUVs.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator safe?

The Aviator earns top marks in evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

The standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Available Co-Pilot 360 Plus adds reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control that can stop and go with traffic.

One caveat is that advanced safety features are not standard across the lineup, so you should confirm exactly which driver-assistance package a used example has before you buy.

Should I buy a 2021 Lincoln Aviator or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 33.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 81% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 14.40% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 keeps the Aviator’s upscale cabin, strong powertrain choices, and premium-feeling design.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $27,518, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $29,720 average.
• It delivers a stylish, comfortable luxury cabin with multiple powertrain options.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of current-market value, strong owner satisfaction, and a refined luxury experience, the 2021 is the better target. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 can still make sense as a lower-cost path into the same basic formula.

How does the 2021 Lincoln Aviator compare to the 2021 Ford Explorer?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Lincoln Aviator:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Great ride quality, Premium interior materials.
• Cons: Cramped third row, Sluggish touchscreen response, Advanced safety features are not standard.

2021 Ford Explorer:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Great handling, Spacious third row.
• Cons: Interior materials feel cheap, Advanced safety features are not standard.

Our experts score the 2021 Lincoln Aviator 7.8/10 and the 2021 Ford Explorer 7.5/10. The Aviator is the better pick if you care most about ride quality and a more premium cabin. The Explorer has the advantage if you want a roomier third row and sharper handling. If you are comparing value, the Explorer is cheaper on average, but the Aviator feels more upscale.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.