NEW LINCOLN NAVIGATOR
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Car and Driver website visitor rankings:
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| Here's how our visitors have reviewed this vehicle. |
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Average Rating |
| Overall |
7.67 |
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| Vehicle Styling |
8.99 |
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| Braking |
8.22 |
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| Handling |
7.69 |
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| Fuel Economy |
4.95 |
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| Interior Comfort |
8.56 |
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| Acceleration |
8.7 |
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| Dependability |
7.6 |
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| Fit and Finish |
7.93 |
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| Transmission |
8.32 |
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| Ride |
8.7 |
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| Rating Scale: 1= worst 10= best
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| To read other User Road Tests or to submit your own review click here |
(Read more of Car and Driver's review here)
 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
A spacious and stylish full-size luxury SUV, but the Escalade is more powerful and the Lexus LX 470 more refined.
Pros
Lots of room for passengers and cargo, handles well for its size, stylish interior, smooth drivetrain, extensive list of luxury features.
Cons
A few low-grade interior materials, V8 runs out of steam too quickly, some confusing controls, outdated navigation system.
What''s New for 2004
The Navigator is now available in just two trim levels -- Luxury and Ultimate. Vehicles equipped with the Audiophile stereo now include separate tweeters for better sound quality. New safety features include a tire-pressure monitoring system as standard equipment and a Roll Stability Control feature (to help prevent rollover incidents) for the Advance Trac system. Sirius Satellite Radio is a new dealer-installed option.
Overview
Introduction:
In 1998, Lincoln took the wraps off its first sport-utility ever. Dubbed the Navigator, the new luxury SUV amounted to little more than a Ford Expedition (itself a station wagon version of the F-Series pickup truck) with a softer riding suspension, acres of glitzy chrome exterior trim, an ultralux cabin and a sticker price, when fully loaded, of $50,000. Critics predicted a flop. Instead, the Navigator became a sales success, finding popularity with folks who wanted the prestige of a luxury nameplate and a full-size SUV all at the same time. General Motors was prodded into action and immediately dressed up a Chevrolet Tahoe with leather, wood, chrome and a Cadillac badge to combat the threat posed by the Navigator. Both the Lincoln and the Cadillac were larger and less expensive than the next nearest competitor, the Lexus LX 470, making them all the more attractive. Over time, Lincoln improved the original by bumping horsepower and torque, but it wasn''t enough to hold off new and improved competition from at home and abroad. For 2003, Lincoln completely redesigned the Navigator and addressed many of the original design''s shortcomings, including the Expedition-clone interior, sloppy handling and tight third-row seat accommodations. In the process, Lincoln retained signature styling cues while adding neat convenience features like power-retractable running boards, a power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats. Available DVD entertainment in the back and a navigation system (unfortunately still a CD-based design) keep the vehicle abreast of the current techno toys, and the cabin is artfully rendered with a dual-cowl design reminiscent of Lincolns built in the 1960s. Though the new Navigator''s 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8 engine is carried over from the first generation, it is smoother and quieter than before. Power is adequate for most driving situations, but unimpressive next to the 345-hp Escalade. Still, when it''s time to haul the family, the Lincoln comes through, as it offers plenty of room in the second and third rows -- enough so that a road trip with six adults is actually a legitimate proposition.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
Two trim levels are available: Luxury and Ultimate. Luxury models come with leather upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, an in-dash six-disc changer, roof rack and power-folding side mirrors. Still not satisfied? Opting for the Ultimate sets you up with heated and cooled front seats, Advance Trac stability control, power liftgate, power-folding third-row seats and high-intensity discharge headlamps. Options for both models include a 40/20/40 second-row bench seat (in lieu of the standard captain''s chairs), a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a Class III/IV tow hitch. Power-deploying running boards are exclusive to the Ultimate model.
Powertrains and Performance:
The Navigator is powered by a dual-overhead cam, 5.4-liter V8 engine rated for 300 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard. As the Navigator weighs almost 5,800 pounds, acceleration is adequate but certainly not brisk, and fuel mileage leaves something to be desired. As with other truck-based SUVs, buyers have a choice between two-wheel drive (rear-drive) and four-wheel drive. Properly equipped, the Navigator can tow up to 8,600 pounds.
Safety:
The Navigator comes standard with side curtain airbags and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist as well as a tire-pressure monitoring system. The Advance Trac stability control system is optional on Luxury models and standard on the Ultimate; this year it has a new Roll Stability Control feature to help keep the Navigator from rolling over following a panic maneuver. The Lincoln earned a perfect five stars in frontal crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
The shapely dash has a dual-cowl design evocative of a 1961 Lincoln Continental and a pleasing blend of warm and cool tones. The sparingly applied walnut trim is convincing, and the leather seat upholstery looks and feels good. Unfortunately, closer inspection reveals a number of cheap plastics, and some of the controls are hard to use. The Navigator makes no such compromises when it comes to hauling passengers, though, as its third-row seat offers class-leading legroom -- giving it a usable capacity of seven or eight people. Cargo capacity ranges from 17.9 cubic feet with all the seats in use to 104.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
Acceleration is adequate in most situations, but when pushed on the highway, the Lincoln''s V8 runs out of breath more quickly than its Escalade rival. Although not as plush-riding as the Cadillac or the Lexus LX 470, the Navigator has a composed, confident feel on the road, and body lean is well controlled around corners.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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