Lincoln Navigator

Outside

Regardless of your opinion on hulking full-sized, truck-based SUVs, you’ll have to admit that the Navigator makes a statement. It’s big. It has a big grille, and big, slabby sides, and an imposing cliff of a rear end. Lincoln has modernized a long-running design approach by squishing some features here (the headlights and rear quarter windows) and ballooning other features there (the grille and wheels), and adding little flourishes that a lot of automakers use to make something that’s the same look different. For the most part, though, these design tweaks—especially the optional 24-inch wheels—play to the Navigator’s bigness.

As for colors, don’t expect bedazzlement. A host of muted hues are available, including two whites, four grays, a black, a washed-out blue, and—for the more adventurous—a hazy brown color called sunrise copper metallic.

There are a number of different trim packages available, too, that each offer a different look. The Reserve Jet trim blacks out the wheels and grille, and adds black accent spears running the length of each side of the truck. There are now two Black Label treatments that include a more glittery grille and dark/wooden interior trim touches.

As before, both short- and long-wheelbase models are available.

Inside

As always, there’s plenty of room for the driver and passengers inside the new Navigator. How could there not be? The most striking difference is the dash, which features a 48-inch digital display that sits above a much smaller center touchscreen situated just above the massive center console. If it’s anything like the outgoing Navigator (and dimensionally, it is), there will be plenty of interior storage space to go with all that head, shoulder, hip, and leg room.

When the Navigator is in Park, the panoramic display can be used for a variety of purposes. In spa mode, the front seats automatically recline, heat up slightly, and massage the occupants while a calming scent spritzes the cabin, ambient lighting illuminates, and soothing visuals worm across the wide screen. The screen can also be used in “pano” mode for gaming when the vehicle is not in motion. For normal driving use, a variety of different information can be displayed, and the format is fully customizable. Each personal customization can be linked to a key fob so that the screen will automatically change profiles for each driver.

Lincoln has also improved the back-end experience with a new tailgate—the previous version was a monolithic single piece—that combines a short, pregame party-ready tailgate with a smaller-than-before upper hatch. And the third-row seats fold in a 40-20-40 configuration (all power, of course, and heated) to accommodate a variety of cargo. An optional divider can be used to organize cargo, or as a backrest for sedentary tailgaters.

There are two options for the second-row seats: two heated, ventilated, massaging full-power captain’s chairs or a semi-power bench for those who prefer the practicality of being able to carry eight passengers (vehicles equipped with captain’s chairs can carry only seven). Either option folds and pushes out of the way for easy access to the third row.

What Drives It

The powertrain is essentially the same as in the previous-generation Navigator: a gasoline-powered twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that cranks out 440 hp and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Assuming all other things remain the same (and there’s every indication that they will), the new Navigator is likely to offer punchy acceleration despite the vehicle’s ponderous weight.

In CR’s testing, the current Navigator registered 16 mpg overall—on a par with other vehicles in the class, and hardly thrifty. We don’t expect that to change. That said, towing capacity is an impressive 8,700 pounds (unless you go for the 24-inch wheels, in which case it will be 8,500 for the long wheelbase model and 8,400 for the short wheelbase model).

Four-wheel drive and an adaptive suspension system—which automatically adjusts to road conditions to provide a smooth ride—are standard. However, due to large wheels, low-profile tires, and a low front valance, the new Navigator will be akin to the old one vis-a-vis off-road prowess. It’s intended strictly for paved roads.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

The Navigator comes standard with Lincoln CoPilot360 Drive 2.0, Lincoln’s full suite of active driver assist features. Included are AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with lane change assist, blind spot warning, evasive steering assist, and parking assist. Ford’s latest version of BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assist is standard. It enables a smoother drive and more time in hands-free mode on average. The parking assist feature does double duty as a trailer backup assist, a plus in a vehicle that can tow nearly 4 tons.