Words by: Adam Allen
The former darling of hip hop music video producers is still going strong 26 years after its debut. Like its archrival, the Cadillac Escalade, the ‘Gator has been the recipient of meaningful updates over the years, going from a warmed over F-150 with gilded lily treatment to what you see before you today; there’s still a strong relation to the F-150 workhorse underneath, but everything else has been smoothed, polished and upgraded to the point where it feels like something that was conceived on its own. We drove the current generation Navigator back in 2018 when it was new and claimed, “the Cadillac execs in the Renaissance Centre are likely nervously glancing across town at Ford headquarters.” At the time, we found the Lincoln to be far superior to the Caddy which seemed to grow complacent at the top of the domestic full size luxury SUV heap- basically, just add slightly better leather, so-so fake wood trim along with the Cadillac crest on the hood of what was basically a Chevy Silverado. Since then, the luxury arms race has continued unabated- the current Escalade finds itself in the enviable position of being a very nice truck. Not one to sit idle, Ford has seen to it that this brute shall not languish neglected in the shadows and has gifted the big Linc with enough new kit for 2024- enough that we figured it was time for another go to see what’s what.
The Highs
The Navigator may have blue collar roots, yet it feels undeniably luxurious when driving. The ride quality is vastly better than the truck its based on, and much of that credit goes to the independent rear suspension that serves duty out back in favor of a live axle. That it can offer such pillowy comfort despite riding on massive 22” wheels is a real achievement. Know what else is something to brag about? A 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds is almost inconceivable for something this massive, and it also emits a pretty good soundtrack when you introduce the throttle to the firewall. When you’re not terrifying your passengers with its straight-line speed, the Navigator drives along in almost library like silence. If it gets too quiet, the Revel sound system- one of the better high-end units out there- will crank out the tunes in crystal clarity, all the way up to ‘what’d you say?’ volume levels. Taken as a whole, the interior is ambrosial in its comforts and build quality. The Caddy is nice, but we think the Navigator has its number when it comes to the cockpit.
The Lows
Yes, the interior feels like a luxury suite at a boutique hotel and is exquisitely turned out. That’s why we found it so puzzling that even with the 30-way power adjustable seats we had a much harder time than anticipated finding an ideal driving position. We gave praise to the Navigators’ suprisingly brisk turn of speed, but despite the startling acceleration, this is still a pickup truck-based conveyance that tips the scales at a tarmac buckling 2,757 kilos. That means it is never going to earn any praise for steering precision, brake feel and of course, fuel economy. With gas prices on the rise recently it will cost the same to fill the Navigator’s tank as it would for a nice meal for two accompanied by a good bottle of wine. Tied to the truck’s thirst for dinosaur juice is its huge footprint which makes it unwieldy to drive, say while trying to park it on a narrow street in the downtown core. It will also be a challenge to fit in a regular driveway, much less in a garage.
The Verdict
The Lincoln Navigator is still as blingy as it ever was and is a fine conveyance for the large family seeking a luxury chariot that can also tow another chariot behind it to far flung locales and maybe even a little sojourn off the beaten path here and there. We declared that this jumbo SUV is the most Lincoln Lincoln- brash, in your face luxury but also demure, serene and exquisitely comfortable and spacious. We wonder if maybe Lincoln brass have an inkling to scoop up the Ford Raptor R’s GT500-derioved supercharged V8 and really give the Cadillac Escalade V engineers a reason to sleep less soundly at night (PLEASE DO THIS, Lincoln. Please.) If that ever happens, not only will the ‘Gator still be a baller, but it’ll be also one that leaves the Escalade convincingly in the dust.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Reserve – Specifications
- Price as tested: $130,195
- 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)