2025 Lincoln Navigator: “OG” Full Sized Luxury SUV

The result is a ride quality that’s surprisingly good for a vehicle with such mass and height. Broken pavement is ironed flat, and highway cruising feels almost limousine-like.”

The full-size luxury SUV is a mostly American creation, with the introduction of the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade in the late 1990s. Almost 30 years later, the Navigator continues to deliver on the big SUV brief—towering road presence, palatial interior space, and lots of luxury.
But in a hyper competitive (and lucrative) market where the Cadillac Escalade embraces extroversion and the Mercedes GLS leans into continental refinement, Lincoln is leading with comfort and understated elegance rather than cutting-edge technology or driver involvement.
Lincoln carries over its proven Ford F150-derived 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which produces 440HP and 510 lb-ft of torque. That betters the Escalade’s 420HP or the Mercedes GLS450’s 375HP, by the way, and the Navigator’s V6 synchs with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive, with all wheel drive optional. Acceleration is brisk for a vehicle tipping the scales at over 6,000 pounds. Expect a 0–60 mph run in the mid-five-second range, plenty for merging or passing with confidence. What impresses more than raw speed is how unobtrusive the drivetrain feels—power delivery is smooth, turbo lag minimal, and the transmission fades into the background.
Fuel economy remains decent for the class, but still pretty lousy: 16 MPG City and 22 Highway. Obvs, anyone considering this SUV isn’t cross shopping it with a Toyota Prius.
The Navigator rides on the F150’s body-on-frame architecture shared with the Expedition, but Lincoln dresses it up with an adaptive suspension system that includes road-previewing cameras. The result is a ride quality that’s surprisingly good for a vehicle with such mass and height. Broken pavement is ironed flat, and highway cruising feels almost limousine-like. Handling is not the Navigator’s strong suit, as you’d expect. The steering is light and numb, body motions are controlled but obvious, and the Navigator cries “Uncle” quickly if you push it on a winding road. Buyers comparing it with a BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS will immediately notice the lack of sportiness, but Lincoln, understanding its customers, focused on comfort and silence rather than athleticism.
Oh, by the way, the Navigator, like all big American SUVs based on full size pickup trucks, is difficult to park. I suspect 0% of readers will be surprised by that.
Visually, the 2025 Navigator received only minor updates compared with the last version. The front fascia carries a wide chrome grille flanked by adaptive LED headlights, and Lincoln has resisted the urge to exaggerate its proportions further. Where Cadillac’s Escalade is angular and aggressive, the Navigator strikes a softer, more understated stance. The Navigator is still a massive hunk of SUV, especially in the extended L variant, but the clean lines and restrained detailing minimize visual bloat. New wheel designs of up to 24 inches add some flash, and a few fresh paint colors broaden its appeal. The rear is dominated by a full-width LED light bar, a design element that continues to give the Navigator a modern but not overly trendy signature at night.
Step inside, and the Navigator reminds you why people buy these behemoths. The interior is gigantic, with three rows of seating that can actually accommodate real adults, even if you don’t choose the L. The second row can be outfitted with captain’s chairs or a bench, and the third row remains one of the roomiest in the class. Cargo space in the standard-wheelbase model is excellent, while the long-wheelbase L is just huge.
Leather upholstery, genuine wood trim, and soft-touch surfaces abound, and the color combinations feel warmer than in many German competitors.
Tech is a mixed bag. The 13.2-inch infotainment screen runs a slick version of Ford’s Sync 4 system, which integrates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the overall design of the interface feels more conservative than cutting-edge, and Lincoln doesn’t match Cadillac’s wow-factor OLED display setup.
On the safety front, Lincoln equips the Navigator with a robust suite of driver assists, including adaptive cruise with lane-centering, intersection assist, and hands-free driving via Lincoln’s BlueCruise. BlueCruise is now an outstanding system, and no way would I buy a Navigator without it.
Pricing starts in the low $90,000s for the base model and climbs past $115,000 fully loaded. It’s reasonable to expect average transaction prices to be around $100,000.
The Navigator remains an excellent option for buyers who want a traditional full-size luxury SUV. It doesn’t scream for attention like the Escalade, nor does it chase European athleticism. Instead, it leans into calm refinement, a plush interior, and a distinctively American sense of scale. If you want a big luxury SUV that whispers rather than shouts, the Navigator remains a solid choice.
Stephen Schutz has covered the automotive world for more than 30 years as a syndicated writer and podcast host. Read his column monthly in The Cricket.