Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator at a glance

Five generations from 1997 to 2025

The first Navigator left the Wayne line on 14 May 1997 and went on sale on 1 July 1997. It was an upmarket Expedition with a chrome grille, leather and wood, and an optional load-levelling air suspension. Lincoln sold 43,859 in the United States in 1998 and outsold Cadillac that year. General Motors soon answered with the Cadillac Escalade.

The second generation arrived in May 2002. It moved to independent rear suspension and gained a third row that folds flat. Side curtain airbags arrived for 2003 and stability control with roll-over sensing for 2005, when a ZF six-speed automatic replaced the four-speed.

Shown at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006, the third generation moved to the F-150's T1 platform. The new Navigator L was 373 mm (14.7 in) longer, with a 305 mm (12 in) longer wheelbase. For the 2015 model year the V8 gave way to the EcoBoost V6. According to the old 1cars report, the update also brought push-button start, electric power steering, standard xenon lights and adaptive dampers with three modes.

The fourth generation was unveiled at the New York Auto Show on 12 April 2017. Its aluminium body made it about 90 kg (200 lb) lighter. Four-wheel-drive versions gained a two-speed transfer case with a low range. A 2022 update added a 13.2-inch touchscreen and BlueCruise hands-free driving on mapped motorways. The fifth generation was revealed on 15 August 2024 and reached customers in 2025.

EcoBoost V6 and the old 5.4 V8: engines and performance

Power rose from 172 kW in 1998 to 328 kW in 2025, an increase of 91 % by our calculation. The weight story is less dramatic. A 2003 rear-drive Navigator weighed about 2,613 kg (5,760 lb), which gives 11.7 kg per kW. A current long-wheelbase model weighs around 2,740 kg (6,044 lb) and carries 8.4 kg per kW, so it feels far stronger on the road. You can check other pairs with the 1cars power-to-weight calculator.

The flex-fuel V8 from 2009 gained 7.5 kW (10 hp). Towing grew from 3,490 kg (7,700 lb) in 1998 to 3,946 kg (8,700 lb) for a properly equipped 2025 car.

Sizes: the standard body versus the long L

The standard Navigator is longer than most European SUVs, and the L adds another 302 mm. Before buying one in Europe, measure your parking space with the garage fit tool. The fifth generation also brings a split tailgate and a third row that folds 40/20/40 at the push of a button.

Inside, the old 1cars text praised the third-generation cabin for its wood trim and electrically adjusted seats even in base form. It also noted that owners used the deep centre armrest more than the glovebox. Today's car offers 30-way power front seats with massage, heated and ventilated first and second rows, and up to 14 USB ports.

How thirsty a 2.7-tonne luxury SUV is

The EPA rates the 2025 Navigator at 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined. In European units that is 14.7, 10.7 and 13.1 l/100 km. At the combined figure, 15,000 km a year needs about 1,965 litres of petrol by our calculation. Enter your own mileage and fuel price in the 1cars fuel cost calculator.

The V8 cars before 2015 used more, especially in town. Outside North America, parts and dealer support are scarce, which the old 1cars review listed as a key drawback. Servicing costs are high because the Navigator is a niche import in most countries.

Trims from Premiere to Black Label

The fourth generation came as Premiere, Select, Reserve and Black Label. Black Label cars used themed interiors called Chalet, Destination, Invitation, Central Park and Yacht Club. The fifth generation starts at Reserve, with 22-inch wheels, power running boards, a panoramic roof, tri-zone climate control and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system.

The Black Label adds premium leather, a suede-like headliner, massaging second-row captain's chairs, heated third-row seats, rear entertainment screens and a heavy-duty towing pack. A Jet appearance package and a Special Edition with 24-inch wheels were also offered. The 2025 cabin centres on the 48-inch display with Google built-in and an 11.1-inch touchscreen.

Crash tests and driver aids

The 2016 Navigator 4x4 earned five stars overall from the US NHTSA, with five stars in the frontal and side tests. Its rollover risk was 19.8 %. Euro NCAP has never tested the model, because Lincoln does not sell it in Europe.

Safety equipment grew with each generation. Curtain airbags came in 2003, tyre pressure monitoring in 2004 and stability control with roll-over sensing in 2005. The 2015 update added blind-spot monitoring and hill-start assist. The 2025 car has BlueCruise as standard, plus intersection assist, evasive steering assist, reverse automatic braking and a 360-degree camera.

Escalade, LX and other rivals compared

The Escalade is the closest match, and it was created as an answer to the first Navigator. The Navigator offers more torque from its V6 than the Escalade's V8, while the Lexus wins on long-term reliability.