2023 Lincoln Navigator L

As one of the largest SUVs in the USA, the Lincoln Navigator L has an even longer wheelbase than the standard Navigator, freeing up as much passenger and cargo space as possible. It combines this spaciousness with all the luxury, quality, and comfort features expected from that badge. A large and heavy vehicle such as this requires enough grunt to move at a decent rate, which is why the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 has healthy outputs of 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This makes it even more powerful than its direct competitors, the Cadillac Escalade ESV and GMC Yukon XL. On the downside, the Navigator L is a chore to drive anywhere but on the highway due to its sheer size, and its large wheels can't smother all the bumps one comes across on broken tarmac. But if you need something spacious and luxurious for up to eight people and aren't concerned about what it'll cost to run, does the Navigator L fit the brief better than its other gigantic rivals?

The starting price of the 2023 Lincoln Navigator L is $94,965 for the Reserve. This new price is the MSRP for the Lincoln Navigator L, and it excludes the destination charge of $1,895 in the USA. The only other trim in the range is the ultra-luxurious Black Label L which starts at $112,300.

First, let's get the obvious pitfall out of the way that becomes immediately apparent when conducting a review of the Lincoln Navigator L: its size. At over 221 inches in length and with a body width of almost 94 inches including the mirrors, this SUV can be a handful to guide through packed parking lots and can't be described as car-like. The standard 360-degree camera helps, but you'll still spend a lot of time twirling that steering wheel.

Besides the powerful engine, nothing about the Navigator L is remotely sporty, be it the uncommunicative steering or the soft suspension. If you expect at least some thrills from your three-row SUV, you'd be better off in something like the BMW X7.

But more important than sportiness is comfort. Here, the Navigator is better but not perfect. It will glide along smooth highways and keep occupants well-insulated, but the ride on the large 22s is sometimes jarring, and there are rivals that are more consistently comfortable across varying surfaces.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator L typifies all the things that modern shoppers seem to love about large SUVs. It has a high driving position so you can peer over most other road users, looks intimidating when it comes up behind you in the fast lane, and comes with loads of space for people and their paraphernalia. It also has a more powerful engine than its direct rivals which tames the effect of the Navigator L's bulk, and the cabin is smartly trimmed and can be had with almost every creature comfort imaginable. However, if you don't absolutely need all that space, we'd recommend the standard Navigator or even a mid-size SUV like the Aviator, especially if you'll be doing most of the driving and don't like the idea of parking such a beast. We also wish the ride was more consistently comfortable. But if only the biggest and most expensive SUV will do, the 2023 Navigator L does enough to be considered a legitimate rival to the more modern Cadillac Escalade ESV.

We don't imagine that many buyers in this segment are looking to save on costs, so with that in mind, we'd go for the top-spec Black Label. It comes with everything the Reserve has but adds signature styling elements, the Revel Ultima 3D sound system with 28 speakers, and the 30-position Perfect Position front seats. It's quite excessive, and the standard Navigator L is good enough, but the Black Label has the lavish specification that outclasses what the Germans offer at the same price.