Lincoln Navigator review

You can’t say that Lincoln doesn’t put in an effort when it comes to interior design. Though tightly loaded, the dashboard is a mix of big buttons and piano-key switches for the drive select along with the 11.1-inch display. Thanks to the wraparound driver display being pushed back underneath the windshield, the front of the cabin has a very cathedral-like airiness to it. What isn’t accessed through a button or touchscreen can be controlled by touch-activated buttons on the Navigator’s rugby-ball shaped steering wheel.

In terms of materials it’s hit-and-miss, like the pinstriped wood accents that look roughly painted or the black glossy plastics. Minor gripes, really, but these stand out in the context of Lincoln’s luxury purview.

How is it for passengers?

The second row is ostensibly the better place to sit due to the ample space and lack of driving responsibility, made even better by the power seating with cooling, heating and massage features. There’s even an option for this row’s occupants to have seat-back screens for their amusement.

Your mileage may vary, though, since enjoyment is contingent on a number of factors such as your own height and that of the person sat ahead of you. If you’ve got a rather long-legged driver, there isn’t much you can do about it to compensate since the over-engineered second-row seats are limited to how far back they can slide. This happens to preserve the surprisingly spacious third row leg room, though it doesn’t do anyone much good if those seats are empty.

As such, you can end up being overwhelmed with the big robotic seat enveloping you, the equally overwrought seat ahead pressed into your space with an LCD screen too close to your face while the springy suspension bounces you around.

How about cargo?

Behind the third row is 22.9cu ft (648 litres) of volume that can be expanded to 60.8cu ft (1,722 litres) if you fold down the seats. What’s neat about the Lincoln and subsequently the Expedition is the attention given to the split-gate rear that’s made to be super convenient. The top hatch can fold up while the mini tail gate remains up for easy access to cargo. The gate itself is engineered to act as a seat so folks having a picnic can sit on it with confidence. An included modular table acts as a seat back or serving tray if you’re doing a proper tailgate session.

If so, door-mounted LED lights illuminate the area for parties after dark and a clutch of power outlets make setting things up a breeze. What, you don’t bring your own blender on road trips? How else are you making “road hummus”?

How’s the tech?

Lincoln’s Navigator naturally comes loaded with a great deal of gadgets like native Google Maps integration, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED ambient lighting and custom profiles for all the personal settings. There’s also safety tech like pre-collision assists, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist included, too. Apart from BlueCruise, the other standout feature is the rejuvenation programs that leverage the ambient lighting, seat massages and entertainment system to create a spa-like atmosphere. It only works when parked and lasts about 10 minutes, so it’s a nice thing to experience if you’re killing time somewhere. How often you’ll use it is another matter.

Between all the various menus, voice commands and dynamic buttons to keep track of, the Navigator mercifully includes “quick tips’ on its nav screen. It’s essentially a videogame-like tutorial that either explains a specific function or allows occupants to demo them before hitting the road. For example, the menu can walk you through using BlueCruise while parked so drivers new to the system don’t have to wait until they're on a highway at speed to figure out how the system works.