Large luxury sedans like the Continental and Town Car once served as Lincoln's flagship models, but today it's a large luxury SUV. Like those yesteryear sedans, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator combines a plush cabin and soft ride with robust power and towing capacity. (those old Town Cars could tow!) But today's Navigator also offers technology beyond even the high-tech standards of those days, highlighted by infinitely adjustable seats and the optional BlueCruise hands-free driving system. Despite middling fuel efficiency, the Navigator is a benchmark. Fittingly, it's our No. 2 pick for a large luxury SUV.
The Navigator rolls into 2024 with just one notable change. Four-wheel drive, previously optional, now comes standard. Combined with a low-speed transfer case, every Navigator can now better handle tricky conditions or terrain. This minor update follows last year's round of minimal changes, but this isn't much of a concern. The current Navigator is pretty good as is. With its muscular turbo V6 and stout chassis engineered alongside the F-150, the Navigator can tow up to 8,700 pounds. Among big luxe SUVs, only the Jeep Grand Wagoneer can pull more. It can seat up to eight passengers with room to stretch, and if you need more cargo space, there's always the Navigator L version, which adds nearly a foot of length.
The Cadillac Escalade shares similar features and sophistication with the Navigator. You can't go wrong with either. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer offers impressive power and towing capacity but falls short of the same luxury. The Infiniti QX80 costs less, but its ancient platform and abysmal fuel economy don't make it a bargain. The Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7 are smaller and less powerful with similar features and equal or better fuel economy. For luxury off-roading, the Land Rover Defender is hard to beat.
Edmunds Expert Rating
great
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Overall, we think highly of the Navigator. A 450-horsepower engine and 10-speed transmission provide athletic speed, while cabin accommodations are at first-class standards. This is Lincoln at its new best.
How does the Navigator drive? Considering the size and weight of the Navigator, it's surprisingly good at providing strong performance and stress-free driving. The engine is quick and responsive, the steering is low-effort, and body roll is kept in check when you go around turns. The V6 is plenty strong and gets you up to speed in a hurry. Our test Navigator covered 0-60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. That's moving!
Large vehicles tend to nose-dive or squirm around when you jam on the brakes suddenly, and the Navigator is no exception. That said, braking performance is perfectly adequate for the class. The Navigator also feels composed around town and even on tight roads. We wouldn't go so far as to call it sporty. But for the amount of comfort it provides, it's not the clumsy behemoth you'd expect it to be.
How comfortable is the Navigator? Wind and road noise is pretty minimal, and only a small amount of ambient noise sneaks through. The suspension is great at softening sharp bumps or pavement changes. But on continuously undulating surfaces, there can be a lot of body movement, which borders on uncomfortable.
The front seats have a huge number of adjustments, more than really seem necessary. It takes a while to find a setting you like. But once you do, you'll be sublimely comfortable. The seat heaters and coolers are effective too.
How’s the interior? The Navigator's interior is huge. The large doors, well-placed grab handles and retractable step rails make getting in and out a breeze, while the second row's ability to tilt and slide allows excellent access to the third row. Adjustable pedals and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel extend the range of driver comfort.
A lot of controls require some time to become familiar with, but ultimately they're easy to use. Visibility is decent for a vehicle this size, but there are still blind spots, mainly at the front due to chunky windshield pillars. Cameras help you maneuver in tight spaces, and the 360-degree camera system is particularly helpful.
How’s the tech? The Navigator embraces the latest technology, with an excellent infotainment interface, superb sound-system quality, comprehensive driving aids and ample device-charging options. Wireless connectivity support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are icing on the cake.
We were impressed with the easily configurable, immersive experience offered by the 28-speaker Revel stereo in our test vehicle. A number of driving aids are included as standard equipment including blind-spot detection, lane keeping assistance, and forward collision detection with automatic emergency braking. The Lincoln BlueCruise advanced adaptive cruise control is one of the optional aids. The BlueCruise system can provide hands-free driving capability on select highways. In our limited testing we've found that it works pretty well. But keep in mind that hands-free driving isn't the same as fully automated driving. You still have to pay attention to the road and be ready to take the wheel at any time.
How’s the storage? If it's space you want, it's what you'll get, even without the extended-wheelbase Navigator L model. There's 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubes behind the second row, and 103.3 cubes with the rear seats folded. All the rear seats fold flat electronically. The second-row center console sits higher than the seat bottoms, though, which prevents a fully flat load area.
There is also an abundance of in-cabin storage for everyone's personal effects, with tons of cubbies of varying sizes and a deep console bin. The anchors for car seats are slightly tucked away in the seat creases, which make them a little hard to access, but the top tethers are easy to get to and there's plenty of space to fit a rear-facing car seat.
Need to tow something? A properly equipped Navigator can manage up to 8,700 pounds (8,300 pounds if you get the 4WD). This is one of the highest capacities in the large luxury SUV class.
How’s the fuel economy? Based on the EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (16 city/21 highway), the four-wheel-drive Navigator should be one of the more efficient vehicles in the class. But we averaged 18.1 mpg over 1,700 miles of mostly highway driving on premium fuel (our high was 20.0 mpg). We saw low figures as well when doing mostly city driving, so we think the EPA figures are likely mildly optimistic for real-world driving.
Is the Navigator a good value? The Navigator looks and feels like it's worth the money, especially from the inside. Design has brought Lincoln a long way. The floating center console, touchscreen arrangement and wrapped dash elevate the Navigator's appeal to new heights. And when compared to others in the segment, the Navigator stands out as a smart choice overall. Considering what you get for the money, the Navigator undercuts the competition.
Lincoln offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, comparable to other luxury brands, though its six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty is above average, just like Cadillac's. Owners who opt for the Black Label trim receive a pretty extensive list of benefits and features, including free car washes and vehicle pickup and drop-off for complimentary maintenance covered for four years/50,000 miles. Owners of non-Black Label cars get two years/20,000 miles of free maintenance and six years/70,000 miles of roadside assistance.
The Navigator is the first vehicle in a long time that's made us excited about the Lincoln brand. It's awesome on many levels. It's comfy, quick and surprisingly stylish. It's not sporty, but no one is really expecting vehicles of this size to be. There's road presence without being overly garish.
The Reserve adds features that make it worth the jump from the base Premiere trim, including leather upholstery, upgraded front seats and the BlueCruise hands-free driving system. The optional Luxury package also merits a look for its upgraded audio system and more comfortable seats. The Black Label is plush, but it's hard to justify the extra cost for what you get.
The 2024 Lincoln Navigator is available in Premiere, Reserve and Black Label trim levels. Each has a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (440 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque) paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive.
An extended-wheelbase model — the Navigator L — is also available in all three trim levels. The Navigator L adds almost 12 inches of length, expands cargo capacity, and increases fuel tank capacity from 23 to 27 gallons. Both versions can seat eight passengers, or seven with the optional second-row captain's chairs.
The 2024 Navigator's highlights include:
Premiere
The base trim Navigator comes well equipped with:
- 20-inch wheels
- Adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beams
- Power running boards
- Hands-free liftgate
- Adaptive suspension (can adjust to improve comfort and handling stability)
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats
- Heated and ventilated second-row seats
- Power-folding second- and third-row seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Wireless smartphone charger
- 110-volt AC power outlet
Standard infotainment includes:
- 13.2-inch touchscreen
- Navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Satellite radio
- 14-speaker sound system
- Wi-Fi connectivity
Every Navigator comes with active safety features such as:
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Navigator and the car in front)
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance
- Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Navigator and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
- Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
- Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Reserve
Our recommended trim adds:
- 22-inch aluminum wheels
- Panoramic sunroof
- Illuminated power running boards
- Genuine leather upholstery
- Upgraded 24-way power-adjustable front seats
- Lincoln's BlueCruise driving system (combines adaptive cruise control with an advanced lane centering system to provide hands-free driving capability on select highways)
- Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
The Reserve trim level also unlocks three option packages. They are:
- Luxury Package Reserve
Adds more luxury features, including:
- 30-way power-adjustable and massaging front seats
- Premium 28-speaker audio system
- Illuminated Lincoln star emblem in the grille
- Monochromatic package
Gives the Navigator a custom look with:
- 22-inch black aluminum wheels
- Body-color grille, bumper and exterior mirror details
- Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package
Ensures maximum towing capability and convenience with:
- Class IV hitch with trailer pin connectors
- Low-range gearing
- Trailer backup assist (aids in positioning the Navigator's hitch close to the trailer)\
- Trailer brake controller (allows for remote adjustability of the trailer's brakes)
- Trailer sway control (helps mitigate sway caused by high crosswinds)
Black Label
Tops the range, adding features such as:
- Luxury package features
- Special 22-inch wheels
- Curated interior color and trim packages
- Extended maintenance plan
- Complimentary car washes
- Digital key technology (allows driver to use a smartphone app to unlock, start and drive the Navigator)
Lincoln buyers also benefit from several ownership perks, such as pickup and delivery of your vehicle for routine service, including free loaner vehicles and a complimentary one-year subscription to a stress-reduction smartphone app.
