Gorgeous mastodon
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size SUV produced since 1997. Note that this is the first SUV by Lincoln.
The Navigator has come a long way of development from the dubious luxury version of the Ford Expedition to a full-fledged separate brand with a huge army of fans. The Navigator is the heaviest production Lincoln with the best load capacity and one of the most luxurious models.
The first generation
It was produced from 1997 to 2002. Originally, the first Lincoln Navigator was quite similar to one of Ford’s most popular models, the Ford Expedition. But at the same time, it offered many options and functions that took it far from the prototype towards the luxury class. The vehicle was standardly equipped with a 5.4-liter 8-cylinder engine with 300 hp, which made the large SUV quite dynamic. The Navigator’s design was nothing fancy, featuring a larger bulky body, wide windows and wide wheel arches, like hundreds of similar crossovers.
The interior was designed for 7 people. It was quite large, offering enough space for adults of any height and weight. But the basic design did not allow the second and third rows to be folded, so the cargo space was available only behind the third row. Thus, if you needed to transport a lot of cargo, it was required to dismantle the third row.
The luxury options of the first Navigator included climate-controlled front seats, navigation system with 5-inch monitor, power sunroof, audio system with six-disc CD changer, rear-seat entertainment system, chrome wheels, rear obstacle warning system.
The target audience liked the first Navigator, which was confirmed by good sales volumes.
The first Navigator had a lot of shortcomings, including a relatively low seating position, seats that were too stiff for the premium class, excessive body rocking when cornering. However, for some reason, the target audience liked the first Navigator, which was confirmed by good sales volumes. Therefore, Lincoln continued to release the Navigator, trying to eliminate the shortcomings of the first generation in the next generation.
The second generation
It was produced from 2003 to 2006. The exterior of the second Navigator caused contradictory emotions, as the SUV looked even more bulky and angular, but it clearly became more beautiful than the previous generation. Obviously, this was due to a more thoroughly elaborated design. The manufacturer managed to remove the shortcomings, improved the interior and changed the configuration of the third-row seats.
The Navigator kept its specific features, including power folding steps, power tailgate, power third-row seats, but acquired a more advanced navigation system and a range of entertainment options. The engine remained the same standard 300 hp unit, but there was a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator was strong, it could not only carry itself (weight 2.6 tons), but also tow 3.9 tons of cargo.
The second generation Navigator was offered in the Luxury or Ultimate trim levels. The Luxury trim includes:
- dual-zone automatic climate control;
- roof rack;
- power side mirrors.
The Ultimate trim also included heated and cooled front seats, a power tailgate, power folding third row seats and a power sunroof. As for options, both versions featured a second row seat, DVD-based navigation system, hitch and retractable steps. The Navigator was standardly equipped with side curtain airbags and disc brakes on all four wheels with ABS, electronic brake force distribution and braking system, and electronic stability programme.
The third generation
It was produced from 2006 to 2017, and was restyled in 2014. The model was primarily equipped with a 5.4-liter 8-cylinder engine with 310 hp, accompanied by a 6-speed automatic transmission. The basic version is rear-wheel drive, whereas the all-wheel drive version is optional.
The third generation Lincoln Navigator came with regular and longer wheelbases. Both had three rows of seats, suitable for 7 to 8 people. The list of standard equipment includes:
- 18-inch alloy wheels;
- xenon headlights;
- fog lights;
- front and rear parking sensors;
- rain-sensing wipers;
- electric tailgate;
- power folding steps;
- dual-zone automatic climate control;
- auto-dimming rear-view mirror;
- Sync voice command system;
- Bluetooth-enabled phone and audio communication;
- rearview camera;
- 6.5-inch touchscreen display and more.
The third generation Navigator came with anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control (with rollover sensor), traction control, trailer swing control system, front seat side airbags, third-row side airbags, collision warning system, front and rear parking sensors. But the Navigator did not become the leader in terms of safety. Thus, in the course of national crash tests, it received four stars out of five for overall collision protection, four stars for frontal impact protection and five stars for side impact protection.
But the third generation Navigator started looking nobler, ceasing to inspire a feeling of excessive heaviness over the wheels, it became more banded together vertically and horizontally and looked much more harmonious than the second generation.
In 2014, the third-generation Lincoln Navigator was restyled, acquiring a nobler grille pattern, an EcoBoost V6 engine with 380 hp and standard 20-inch wheels.
The fourth generation
It has been produced from 2017 to the present (as of 2021). Boasting of a more refined design, the new Lincoln Navigator has become really elegant and even less bulky. The Navigator offers 0.5 cubic meters of space behind the third row, and with the third and second rows folded down, the volume increases to 3 cubic meters.
The 2017 Navigator is standardly equipped with a 3.5-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine with 380 hp and a torque of 623 Nm, accompanied by a 6-speed gearbox.
The fourth generation Navigator is capable of maneuvering in relatively tight spaces, thanks to independent rear suspension and optional adaptive suspension dampers. But it is primarily designed for long journeys on good roads, on which it looks as organic as a mastodon in the forests of the Quaternary period.
The 2019/2020 Lincoln Navigator, both standard and longer, is available in two trim levels: Select and Reserve. The Select trim includes:
- 20-inch wheels;
- automatic bi-xenon headlights;
- reinforced towing kit;
- front and rear parking sensors;
- automatic wipers;
- rear protective glass;
- front electric seats;
- electric pedals, etc.
Safety equipment includes stability and traction control system, trailer swing control, front seat side airbags, triple-row side airbags, a collision warning system, front and rear parking sensors and a range of advanced safety options. The fourth generation Navigator can finally boast of a better level of safety. Thus, according to the results of all tests conducted by regulators, it has the highest ratings.
