2023 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator is seen by many as the definition of the full-size American SUV - it's big, powerful, and imposing, with plenty of space for people and luggage. Bearing the Lincoln badge, it also has premium aspirations above the station of the Ford Expedition on which it is based. Natural rivals are the Cadillac Escalade, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and European contenders such as the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. The starting price of the 2023 Lincoln Navigator is just under $80k, but it represents good value as it's cheaper than most of its competitors. But it's not all moonshine and roses, as the body-on-frame Navigator has been criticized for being cumbersome to drive and not as much fun to pilot as an X7 or even the Escalade, the latter demonstrating that a body-on-frame SUV can be tuned to drive well. Lincoln is hoping the high level of standard luxury and safety features, the attractive price, the choice of bodies and drivetrains, and that potent 440-hp twin-turbo V6 will swing your vote.

The Lincoln Navigator's MSRP starts at $79,725 for the Standard, while a Reserve will cost you $91,935. These are the prices for the default RWD configurations; the 4x4 drivetrain adds $3,000 to the Standard and $2,700 to the Reserve. The Black Label is 4x4 only and costs $109,255. These prices don't include the $1,895 destination charge.

When it was new, the Navigator's ride and handling impressed, considering its size and body-on-frame construction. But in the meantime, the Cadillac Escalade was redesigned, and the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer appeared on the scene, both setting new standards for homegrown SUVs that now make the Navigator feel a step or two behind. It's generally quiet and comfortable, and the suspension ably absorbs shocks, but the way small shimmies and shudders permeate the cabin when traversing rough roads reminds one of old-school SUVs. It's not harsh, but the secondary vibrations never quite die down, and it's worse on the 22-inch wheels, which feel inadequately damped, tugging on the suspension and thumping into potholes. It's sheer size is not much help and numb steering conspires against driver enjoyment. The powertrain is still a class act though, with the potent 440-hp V6 and ten-speed automatic making for rapid progress and effortless passing on the highway, even when towing.

The Navigator is still a great SUV and its biggest selling points are its sumptuous interior, its acres of stretch-out space, its high feature count, and its potent yet polished powertrain. But the world has moved on and Lincoln has not made the hoped-for changes to refine the suspension since the car launched in 2018, so now it feels a bit old and cumbersome compared to newer American rivals from Jeep and Cadillac, not to mention the sportier Europeans from Mercedes and BMW. If you're after a large SUV with a beautiful interior and plenty of space, little can beat the Navigator, but as a complete package, it now falls shy of the best in this class.

The mid-range Reserve is the peach in the lineup and for around $12k more than the Standard, it comes fitted with various desirable features such as a head-up display, upgraded 24-way power seats, a sunroof, leather upholstery, and several additional driver assists that include the new ActiveGlide semi-autonomous tech. We'd take the RWD and save not only $3k but also some fuel. It's the sweet spot and nearly $20k cheaper than the fully loaded AWD-only Black Label, which will likely be overkill for most people.