2018 Lincoln Navigator 3.5L V6 10AT FWD (450 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The fourth generation of the full-size luxury SUV Lincoln Navigator was unveiled at the 2017 New York Auto Show, and the upgrades compared with its predecessor were so important that they almost doubled its sales.

While it still shared its underpinnings with the Ford Expedition, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator was at a whole different level. It boasted a massive list of features that not long before were provided only by the top-tech and top-luxury brands, usually not combining them. However, Ford emptied its baskets and released all the plush and expensive materials to the Navigator to bring sales up, which indeed happened. Furthermore, like in the previous generations, the full-size SUV came in two lengths for the wheelbase, albeit both could fit up to eight passengers. The difference was in the trunk size. In addition, to make the vehicle more fuel efficient, Lincoln made the bodywork for the Navigator from aluminum and exclusively used V6 turbocharged engines.

Lincoln slowly adopted a new design language for its vehicles, ditching the formerly used split-wing styling inspired by the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr. Instead, the 2018 Navigator had a flat front fascia boasting a broad metallic grille where the brand’s badge took center stage. Flanking it were a pair of standard adaptive LED headlights across the range and available high and low beams. On the lower area of the bumper, the American luxury automaker installed a trapezoidal-shaped air intake and a set of side-mounted LED fog lamps.

From its profile, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator was everything but subtle. The full-size SUV was available in four grades: Base, Premiere, Select, and Reserve. Lower grades featured 20-inch alloy wheels, while the highest versions ran on 22-inch sets. Like its predecessors, the fourth generation of the Navigator was available with retractable running boards that eased ingress and egress to the vehicle. The automaker added the car’s nameplate on the front fenders, just ahead of the door mirrors. At the back, the LED taillights were visually connected over the tailgate via a light stripe adorned by chromed trims.

However, the main focus of the automaker was to create a serene interior where customers could enjoy their travels in the utmost comfort. Like the previous generations, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator offered standard three-row seating. The front passengers were spoiled with standard ten-way adjustment seats with heating and cooling, while an optional 30-way adjustment system was available. The wide center console that separated the driver from the side passenger accommodated a couple of cup holders and the drive select mode. A wide armrest concealed a deep cubby storage underneath it. Fronting the steering wheel was a configurable digital instrument panel that revealed various information, including the map for the navigation system. Atop the center stack, the automaker placed the infotainment system featuring a ten-inch touchscreen and up to 20 speakers for an exhilarating sound experience. The second row was available with a bench seat or two independent ones separated by a cantilevered center console with additional storage and functions. At the same time, the rearmost row was fitted with an electric reclining function. It provided enough legroom and headroom for adults.

Under the hood, the automaker placed the most powerful engine ever installed in a Lincoln. It was a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 from Ford’s EcoBoost family. It paired it with a ten-speed automatic transmission (instead of six like in the previous generation) that sent the power to the rear or all corners, depending on the options. The four-wheel independent suspension was standard, while the adaptive dampers were available, depending on the grade.