What constitutes a luxury vehicle anymore? In this modern era, where even the most basic of economy cars can be equipped with heated- and powered-everything, and even the ability to more or less drive themselves, where do you go in the luxury space? Most upper-crust car makers have resorted to just throwing more tech and more screens into cars, one-upping each other with increasingly gimmicky doo-dads to impress the nouveau riche. The 2024 Lincoln Navigator goes in another direction entirely, cultivating a vibe one else is really doing: old money.
To be clear, when I say old money, I don’t mean low-tech. The Navigator is certainly not lacking in technology, but what sets it apart is its ability to seamlessly integrate a plethora of technology into a package that is familiar, intuitive, and graceful. It achieves this with a style that is distinctly contemporary American, paying homage to classic design cues without being confined by them.
The Navigator’s design, introduced as a concept in 2016 and largely unchanged since, has aged gracefully. Our test vehicle, with its dark metallic Flight Blue paint over 22-inch wheels looks suitably elegant, with a significant serving of presence, and not just from how much vehicle is present. In my time with it, I noticed more than a few long stares and double takes, and even got a couple of compliments. I wouldn’t have expected this, because they can’t see what I see from inside the Navigator.
While nouveau riche competitors like the BMW X7 and Jeep Wagoneer tend to lean heavily on the aforementioned digital pizazz, burying controls behind massive ultrawide touch displays, the Navigator boasts a relatively modest 13.2-inch touchscreen elegantly perched atop the dashboard, encased in a rounded chrome housing like a jewellery box. It’s underpinned by polished and knurled knobs for volume, tuning, and fan speed, along with matte physical buttons all symmetrically laid out on a piano black center console, which rises to meet the dashboard without actually touching it. Very classy.
Said center console controls flow downward into a large coffee table of sorts. It’s a large, flat space that houses slick rotating doors, cup holders with a phone on one side, and a wireless charging pad and USB ports on the other, all dressed with matched grain espresso ash wood trim. The center console hovers over a massive central storage tray, and is backed by a huge storage bin, furnished with fixed leather armrests.
The interior’s overall aesthetic is gorgeous, emphasizing straight lines, complementary curves, premium materials, and cohesive surfaces. Everything is either soft leather, meticulous stitching, gorgeous semi-gloss wood, tasteful piano black accents, or elegant switchgear, all tied together with chrome trim. There are times when I’ve bemoaned a lack of attention to detail in some of Ford’s vehicles and I find myself wondering where it went. It’s here. The Navigator is an absolutely sublime place to sit.
I do mean sit quite literally, because Lincoln’s Perfect Position seats are among the best I’ve ever experienced. They’re 30-way adjustable, heated, ventilated, and massaging; your mind will be soothed as much as your body by way of Lincoln’s extensive use of acoustic panelling and laminated glass to ensure the Navigator’s cabin is as serene as can be.
This is done partly for your direct benefit, and partly to ensure the Revel Ultima 3D sound system performs to the absolute best of its dazzling ability. All Lincolns benefit from their partnership with Revel for sound systems, but this top-tier Navigator gets the absolute best of what Revel has to offer. Their newest Ultima 3D system boasts 28 speakers and a subwoofer, driven through a 20-channel amplifier. The result is quite possibly the best I have ever experienced. You know when you’re coming up to your driveway and there’s a great song on, so you circle the block to let it play out? I did that for over an hour. Twice.
The Navigator made it very easy for me to spend a lot of time aimlessly piloting because it’s such a nice place to be, satisfying to drive, and surprisingly frugal for something the size of a concert hall. It’s powered by Ford’s 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, lifted almost directly out of the F-150 Raptor albeit with a very slightly more conservative tune. With 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque on tap, it’s more than enough to hustle this luxe bus with effortless abandon. Aside from being quick, this powertrain combo delivers on the promise of feeling effortless and at ease, even while snapping from rest to highway speeds in about five and a half seconds. When you’re not romping on it, it’s quiet, smooth, and linear, while averaging a frugal-for-its-size 13.5L/100 kilometres in the real world.
It’s also very easy to pile on the miles because the Navigator navigates on its own handily. I’ve had hit-and-miss success with Ford’s BlueCruise system in the past, and although I can’t pinpoint specifically what’s done in this application, I can say the Navigator’s version is among the best out there. It’s impeccably calibrated for smooth operation, and the hands-free system is ready to go at pretty much any time. Looking directly at you, GM Super Cruise.
In terms of driving dynamics, the Navigator isn’t trying to set lap records, and it’s better for it. Its first and foremost mission is to be comfortable and easy to helm, and it excels with aplomb. There’s just barely enough heft in the steering to remind you that you’re driving a substantial vehicle, and everything feels natural and organic with no artificial injection of athleticism to interrupt the mood. The chassis calibration is first rate, quietly devouring imperfections in the pavement while maintaining just enough body control to inspire confidence. It’s surprisingly satisfying to drive. Maybe Matthew McConaughey was on to something. It just feels right.
Though the 2024 Lincoln Navigator might be considered a bit long in the tooth, I struggle to see this as a drawback. Like the old-money energy Lincoln is going after, the Navigator’s emphasis on effortless drivability, user-friendly design, style, and stature set it apart. In a market obsessed with glitz, glamour, and gimmickry, the Navigator stands out by focusing on the essentials of a pleasurable experience, without having to make a fuss about it.
