Words by: Adam Allen
As this review is written, a litre of regular unleaded costs $1.60. That ain’t cheap, folks. You’d think with the world’s geopolitical landscape being somewhat of a dumpster fire these days and that the ensuing assault on affordability would render the notion of huge land yachts vestiges of a different time. Could mega-luxo-SUVs, after years of dominance in the automotive lexicon, be destined to become irrelevant (or at the very least, unwanted?) Likely not. We humans are a funny breed and don’t compromise easily. We want luxury, and many of us want it served up in a gargantuan package, because bigger is better. That explains why the Lincoln Navigator you see here and its competitors (Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes Benz GLS and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, among others) continue to move briskly off showroom floors and into heated garages.
Once the darling of hip hop video producers, full size SUVs have continued to flourish. If you can afford the price of entry- our Navigator wore a window sticker price tag approaching $165,000- then you won’t balk at the eye-popping numbers on your gas pump receipt. Despite their thirst, these brutes do offer a degree of utility. Unless you have a pickup truck, you can’t pack a large family and all their gear into a vehicle that can tow your boat or a couple of horses along for the ride. And while pickup trucks are getting swankier with each passing model year, big dog SUVs offer a more refined experience and won’t look out of place in the valet lot as your Chevy Silverado might, no matter the trim level.
Did you know that the Navigator is based on a Ford F-150? Aside from independent rear suspension and fancy dampers, this is as blue collar as underpinnings get. But Lincoln knows better than to sell its customers an SUV that feels too closely related to workaday conveyance and so their engineers have worked hard to smooth off all the rough edges. What your left with is a jumbo-sized SUV that floats down the road, goes where you point it (reasonably) and is way faster than it has any business being. Thanks to its high output 3.5 litre turbocharged V6, this beast will charge to 100 km/h in less than six seconds, much fleeter than most will ever need. Its ride quality is deliciously plush, and although we wouldn’t recommend it, the Navigator can hurl itself down a country road with a surprising amount of agility.
Our tester, seen here finished in a sublime shade called Sunrise Copper Metallic was turned out in top tier Black Label trim, the pinnacle of Lincoln’s offering for the Navigator. The Reserve model which resides one rung on the ladder lower isn’t exactly slumming it; for an extra $20,000 you get access to the cool exterior paint and some of the best interior wood applique treatments we’ve seen in a long time versus the Reserve. They have this digital etching thing going on that pictures do not do justice. It’s a nice reminder that American luxury, when done right, can truly be exquisite. The aforementioned GLS, which leans heavily on piano black and other questionable interior materials, absolutely pales in comparison to the big Linc. Throw in 30-way (!) adjustable front thrones and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system that gives off serious Massey Hall vibes and you have an interior fit for a VIP delegation or some very lucky kiddos.
And yet there are some things the Navigator doesn’t get right. We never warmed to the squircle steering wheel that’s designed that way so that the driver can easily see the 48” screen that span the entire width of the vehicle. It works as intended but gave off to strong of a Tesla vibe. We prefer less of that techy stuff in favor of analogue gauges and real buttons and switches to interface with our vehicles but the market has spoken and this is the kind of stuff people want. Speaking of buttons and switches, if you want to adjust the tilt and telescope of the steering column or even adjust the air flow coming from the climate system’s vents, you now have to do so by accessing a submenu in the infotainment system, and it is not easy nor intuitive to interact with. And here we thought smart engineering was supposed to solve problems, not create new ones. Some gaffes aside, everything within the Navigators cabin works well and is easy to live with.
The only other metric where the Navigator comes up short is related to its immense size. This baby isn’t going to fit in some underground parkades as we discovered, nor is it easy to park in urban settings. With all that size-related presence and a shape that commands attention but gives aerodynamicists fits of anxiety manifests itself in fuel economy that’s pretty dismal. If you were expecting to find numbers that would make filling up such a beast a little easier on the wallet, Lincoln will happily sell you a smaller and much thriftier Nautilus hybrid. Obviously, you won’t get the voluminous interior or towing capability.
The last time we drove a Lincoln Navigator it was pretty nice, but not this nice. It shows that Lincoln product planners have a keen sense of progress and have worked hard to make sure the Navigator will remain the subject of jealous side glances in the country club rotunda. There is one thing they’ve overlooked, that wasn’t a thing the last time we flogged a Navi. That would be the existence of the Escalade V, with its supercharged and seriously pissed off powerplant donated by the excellent CT5-V Blackwing sports sedan. To pull even, all Lincoln engineers would have to do is ask their Ford chums across the hall if they wouldn’t mind sending a few Predator (also supercharged) V8s from the Ford Raptor R production line. Since it shares an engine bay with the trucks, the Navigator could go from being merely athletic to borderline insane with not much effort. PLEASE DO THIS LINCOLN. We can’t let the GM and Stellantis crews (Hellcat V8 Wagoneer, anyone?) have all the fun. With the sun setting on internal combustion engines, the window allowing such insanity is closing fast.
Whether they pull the trigger or not, Lincoln still demonstrates that with its polished powertrain, exceptional luxury flourishes with the comfort and space to match, the Navigator is still bussin’.
2026 Lincoln Navigator Black Label – Specifications
- Price as tested: $164,070
- Body Type: 4-door, 7 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/four-wheel drive
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Engine: 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6, DOHC, 24 valves
- Horsepower: 440 @ 5,500 rpm
- Torque (lbs-ft.): 510 @ 3,000 rpm
- Curb weight: 2,747 kg (6,056 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 16.9L/100km (14 mpg)