Same as last year, the Navigator is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 that makes 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Rushed to market, the first-generation 1999 Cadillac Escalade was a direct response to the Lincoln Navigator, a full-size truck-based luxury SUV that went on sale a year earlier.
Lincoln itself capitalized on the burgeoning luxury SUV trend that was taking hold of America at the time when overseas entrants such as the Mercedes ML and Range Rover were gaining popularity. The Escalade was little more than a rebadged GMC Yukon Denali with some shinier bits, while the Navigator was a more thorough engineering effort that distanced itself from the blue-collar Ford Expedition it was based on.
Redesigned for 2025, the Navigator, which starts at $125,000, is still based on the Ford Expedition, both of which are assembled in Louisville, Ky., but you’d be hard-pressed to find similarities between them. The Expedition was redesigned last year and lends some of its new features to the Lincoln, such as the split tailgate and load shelf in the rear that converts into a picnic table or a bench seat, capable of carrying up to 500 pounds on the lower portion of the gate.
Lincoln says the Navigator should invoke the feeling of sanctuary, a space that provides an escape from the busy world. There’s even an option called Rejuvenate that’s supposed to provide a “spa-like experience,” according to a news release.
The view from the second row, which has screens for each passenger and the seats in the Black Label trim massage, heat and ventilate.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
We first experienced this in the smaller Nautilus, which can only be activated when parked. It uses the expansive panoramic screen set at the base of the windshield to display soothing images of waterfalls or the northern lights. The visuals are complemented by ambient lights, relaxing music and a selection of fragrances that waft in through the vents. The driver’s seat also heats up and massages to provide that spa experience.
Think of it as a meditation session in your vehicle that can be run in intervals of five or 10 minutes, but that also means the large twin-turbo V6 has to be idling for it to work, which isn’t exactly the most ecofriendly thing to do.
Nothing about the Navigator is ecofriendly, however. It hasn’t grown much from the previous version, but it’s still as big as a house, and power still comes from a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 that makes 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, the same figures as last year. And there’s no hybrid option.
The steering wheel, which is a sort of squared-off oval, has a flat top so it doesn’t block the display.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The bigger news with the Navigator is the addition of the CEO-Class Black Label trim, which was previously unavailable in Canada. They’ve taken it further than they have before with three distinct interior themes exclusive to the trim. It includes opulent leathers, laser-etched wood veneers and a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row that massage, heat and ventilate. You can even spec massive 24-inch wheels, the largest ever offered on the Navigator.
Nicole Gauthier, the director of Lincoln Canada, says the company felt the time was right to introduce Black Label to Canada with the redesigned Navigator. “We saw a shift in the market toward enduring value and customization,” she says. “Black Label customers will also get a complimentary maintenance plan, free car washes and an annual detail.”
With this redesign, the Navigator upped the luxury and tech. The 48-inch panoramic display is gorgeous and easier to read than traditional cockpit-mounted gauges, owing to its placement at the base of the windshield. The steering wheel, which is a sort of squared-off oval, has a flat top so it doesn’t block the display, but I had to adjust it lower than I would have preferred.
The split tailgate is great for stopping groceries or cargo from rolling out when you open it and it also doubles as a bench seat if you use the included shelf as a backrest.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
For something so big, it didn’t feel completely out of place on the twisty mountain roads just outside San Diego, Calif., but only if you keep your speed in check. Push outside of its comfort zone, and its pickup truck-based roots start to show. The adaptive dampers do a good job isolating the body and the cabin is whisper quiet at any speed.
Apart from its split tailgate, the Navigator bears little resemblance to the Expedition and Ford has always done a great job distinguishing them. Its main rival, the Cadillac Escalade, offers a similar experience, complete with expansive screens, and choosing between them comes down to personal preference over anything else.
Prices start at $125,000 for the Reserve and $146,000 for the Black Label. There’s an extended wheelbase version with more cargo space for $4,000 more, and because it’s now considered an import, it’s subject to a 25-per-cent tariff. Gauthier says that Lincoln is continually monitoring the situation but customers ordering the new Navigator right now will not see any price hikes, although who knows how long that’s going to last.
Tech specs
2025 Lincoln Navigator
- Base price / as-tested: $125,000/$168,284 (Black Label L) plus $2,450 for freight, predelivery inspection and fees, plus tax (includes $11,789 for estimated luxury tax)
- Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 440 / 510
- Transmission / drive: 10-speed automatic / four-wheel drive
- Curb weight: 2,742 kilograms
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 15.6 city; 10.8 highway; 13.5 combined
- Alternatives: Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, Lexus LX, Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Lincoln says it wanted to give the new Navigator more presence.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Looks
Lincoln wanted to give the new Navigator more presence, but being one of the biggest passenger vehicles on the road takes care of that quite well. The “Atmospheric” Black Label trim comes with copper accents on the grille, badges and on the 24-inch wheels. If you want to get noticed, the Navigator will make that happen.
Interior
The second row in a Black Label Navigator is probably even more inviting and luxurious than the thrones up front. A large control panel with a touchscreen sits in between the power-operated seats and can be used to start a massage, change the colour of the ambient lighting or even control the 28-speaker Revel audio system. They can even be powered out of the way with the touch of a button to make third-row access easy. There’s also a wireless phone charger and dual entertainment screens mounted on the front seats.
A large control panel with a touchscreen sits in between the power-operated seats.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
If you go for the cheaper Reserve trim, you can get a second-row bench seat, which increases the seating capacity of the Navigator to eight and the third row can easily accommodate a 6-foot-tall adult. There are even four USB ports back there.
Performance
The twin-turbo V6 provides 510 lb-ft of torque, plenty to move the Navigator down the road at a surprisingly quick rate of speed, though it tends to lean over quite a bit if pushed too hard in the corners. Broken pavement also brings out ride harshness, likely owing to its truck platform. There’s a sport drive mode called “Excite,” which firms up the dampers and steering, but this is a vehicle that prefers a stately cruise over a spirited romp on a back road.
The 48-inch panoramic screen is customizable with different widgets.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Technology
The 48-inch panoramic screen is customizable with different widgets and, being Android-based, it has Google Maps built in, which is the best navigation technology in vehicles today. You can also use it to watch movies or play video games when parked. The standard 28-speaker Revel audio system sounds great and there are 14 USB ports peppered throughout the cabin to keep everyone’s device charged.
Cargo
The split tailgate is great for stopping groceries or cargo from rolling out when you open it, and it also doubles as a bench seat if you use the included shelf as a backrest. The shelf can also be stowed under the floor when it’s not needed and there’s still a full-size spare under the vehicle. The Navigator L adds a foot to its length providing more than 1,000 litres of cargo space even with all three rows upright. Properly equipped, the Navigator can also tow up to 3,946 kilograms (8,700 pounds).
There is plenty of space in the trunk with all three rows up.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The verdict
While Lincoln’s mid-sized offerings like the Aviator and Nautilus are probably big enough for most people, the Navigator, which started the trend of full-size truck-based luxury SUVs, is still one of the best representations in the segment and an easy recommendation.
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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