2023 Lincoln Navigator

Pros

• A powerful turbocharged V6 that can pull a lot.
• There are three rows of seats that are easy to sit in.
• A lot of room for stuff
• An easy-to-use technology interface

Cons

• It can only go so far off-road.
• Too large for some garages

The way the Navigator is driven. The Navigator does very well for its size and weight in terms of strong performance and driving without stress. The steering is easy to use, the engine is quick to respond, and the body roll is kept in check as you turn. The V6 has a lot of power and gets up to speed quickly. In less than 6.1 seconds, our test Navigator reached 60 miles per hour. That’s exciting!

Large vehicles, like the Navigator, tend to nose-dive or wiggle when the brakes are suddenly applied. But the way it stops is better than average for the class. The Navigator stays calm in cities and highways with a lot of traffic. It doesn’t look sporty. But if you think about how comfortable it is, it’s not the colossal monster you might think it is.

There isn’t much wind or road noise, and there isn’t much background noise either. The suspension can significantly smooth out sharp changes or bumps in the road. However, on surfaces that always curve, the body can move in almost uncomfortable ways.

There are more ways to adjust the front seats than seems necessary. It takes some time to find a place you like. But once you do, you’ll feel like you belong there. Seat coolers and seat warmers also work very well.

The Navigator’s interior has a lot of room. Large doors, grab handles in the right places, and retractable step rails make it easy to get in and out. The second row can tilt and slide, which makes it easy to get to the third row. Adjustable pedals and a steering wheel that can tilt and extend add to the driver’s comfort.

Even though some controls take some time to get used to, they are all easy to use. Even though the visibility is suitable for a car this size, there are some blind spots, especially up front, because of the extensive windscreen pillars. You can move around in small spaces with the help of cameras, and the 360-degree camera system is handy.

The Navigator is full of modern technology. It has an excellent infotainment interface, great sound quality, a lot of driving help, and many ways to charge your phone. The cherry on top is the addition of a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless networking support for integrating smartphones with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 28-speaker Revel radio in our test vehicle blew us away with its easy customization and immersive experience. Some driving aids you can get are blind-spot detection, help to stay in your lane, and front collision detection with automatic emergency braking. One of the available aids is Lincoln’s ActiveGlide, which is an intelligent adaptive cruise control. ActiveGlide, Lincoln’s answer to Ford’s BlueCruise system, lets you drive hands-free on some interstates. From what little we’ve tried, it works well. But remember that fully autonomous driving is different from going without using your hands. Keep your eyes on the road and be ready to take the wheel any time.

You’ll have enough space even if you don’t have the Navigator L model with the longer wheelbase. There are 19.3 cubic feet of space. Approximately 57.5 cubic feet of space can be found beneath the second row, and 18.5 cubic feet can be found at 103.3 cubic feet when the back seats are folded down. All of the rear seats electronically fold down flat. But because the second-row centre console is higher than the seat bottoms, the load area can’t be completely flat.

There is also plenty of room for everyone’s things inside the cabin, with a deep console bin and many different-sized cubbies. There is room for a rear-facing car seat, and the top ropes are easy to reach. However, the car seat anchors are hard to get to because they are hidden in the creases.

Need something to be towed? When they have the right tools, a navigator can handle up to 8,700 pounds (8,300 pounds if you get the 4WD). This is one of the most spacious large luxury SUVs you can get.

The EPA says that the four-wheel-drive Navigator gets a combined 18 mpg (16 city/21 highway), so it should be one of the more fuel-efficient cars in its class. Even so, we got 18.1 mpg driving mainly on the road for 1,700 miles on premium fuel (our high was 20.0 mpg). We mostly went to cities where the numbers were low. This made us think that the EPA numbers might be slightly higher for actual driving.

From the inside, the Navigator is well worth the price. Lincoln has come a long way because of the way it looks. The floating centre console, the touchscreen setup, and the way the dash wraps around all add to the Navigator’s appeal. In comparison to competing items, Navigator stands out as a good choice overall. In terms of what you get for your money, the Navigator is the best.

Lincoln offers a basic warranty of four years or 50,000 miles, the same as other premium models. However, its powertrain warranty of six years or 70,000 miles is better, as is Cadillac’s. When an owner chooses the Black Label trim, they get a long list of benefits and features, such as complimentary car washes and free maintenance pickup and delivery for four years or 50,000 miles. Owners of non-Black Label vehicles are entitled to free maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles and roadside assistance for six years or 70,000 miles.

The Navigator is the first car in a long time that got us excited. It’s excellent in a lot of ways. It’s quick, warm, and trendy, a big surprise. No one thought a car this size would be sporty, so it isn’t. The road is there, but it doesn’t take over.

As of this writing, Lincoln has yet to make any official announcements about the 2023 Navigator. If something changes, we’ll change our recommendation, but the Navigator from last year says that the Reserve has several features worth the extra cost. The ActiveGlide driving system and the surround-view camera system are both valuable extras. The Reserve grade has more comfortable front seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Lincoln Navigator models

There are three trim levels for the Lincoln Navigator: base, Reserve, and black label. Each has a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 3.5-liter V6 turbocharger that makes 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Base and Reserve models come standard with rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive can be added as an extra. All Black Label cars come with four-wheel drive as standard.