10 Things You Need to Know About the 2018 Lincoln Navigator

2018 Lincoln Navigator Front Quarter Hero ・ Photo by Lincoln

The 2018 Lincoln Navigator represents a new generation of a full-size premium American SUV. The Navigator name means more than just luxurious travel for up to seven occupants. The imposing, chrome-clad grille and 22-inch turbine-effect alloy wheels usher in a new era of bling, almost as if the Great Recession never happened. And this time we have LED puddle lamps and high-resolution displays in the mix. The 2018 Navigator goes on sale in the fall of 2017, with a starting price of around $65,000. Between then and now, here’s the skinny on Lincoln’s biggie. We’ve called this “10 Things…” but we’ve included a few more nuggets of information, because the Navigator has a lot going for it.

1) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator has lost weight.

Compared with the previous Navigator, this new model is nearly 200 pounds lighter, despite bigger dimensions, plus things like a foot-activated tailgate and powered running boards. Much of this is down to the amount of aluminum in its construction. Parent company Ford started using aluminum with the current F-150 truck, followed by the 2018 Ford Expedition SUV and now this. It’s still a traditional body-on-frame setup, though, and even the regular-wheelbase version could still weigh more than three tons. Yes, like the previous generation, there’s a regular model — which is still quite long, with plenty of cargo area and passenger space in all three rows — and a longer-wheelbase L variant, which has yet to be unveiled.

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2) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator doesn’t have a V8.

Propulsion comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. Lincoln hasn’t quoted any output figures yet (apart from saying it’s “projected to produce 450 hp”), but assuming it’s the same engine used in the F-150 Raptor pickup, then it definitely should be good for 450 hp, along with 510 lb-ft of torque. And it’s the second figure that really matters for towing. How easily and quickly a vehicle can pick up speed is dependent on torque. As for towing, it was recently announced that the Expedition boasts a best-in-class towing capacity of 9,300 pounds, so we should be able to expect the same impressive towing capability from the Navigator. Like the Raptor’s engine, this one is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

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3) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator remembers the important stuff.

When there are several drivers using one vehicle, it’s a real pain trying to get the seat positioned just right, adjust the mirrors and set the air conditioning to the desired temperature. With the Navigator’s programmable keys, all that stuff is stored and recalled as soon as the driver approaches and opens the vehicle. Not only that, it will also remember favorite radio stations or other music. And even where the power-adjustable pedals should be. Did we mention that the new Navigator also has power-adjustable pedals?

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4) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator has Perfect Position front seats.

They’re optional, but these 30-way (not a typo) power-adjustable seats even have separate cushions for each leg. They’re also heated, ventilated, come with a massaging function, and the soft leather that covers them feels like high-quality stuff. There’s a lot of support, even for the upper part of the torso, which is often overlooked in other vehicles. The complete range of adjustment means if someone can’t get comfortable and stay that way even for a long trip, then perhaps a visit to the chiropractor might be a good idea. Incidentally, there’s the option of two captain’s chairs for the second row, and the third row has a power recline function.

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5) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator offers the brightest head-up display.

Who doesn’t love a head-up display? Crucial information gets projected onto the windshield close to the driver’s usual line of vision. It’s the kind of thing fighter pilots have relied on for years. The automotive world’s luxury brands are now fully on board with them. But some are more successful than others. Systems based on light-emitting diodes (LED) aren’t visible when the driver is wearing sunglasses with polarizing lenses. That’s not so much of a problem with laser-based versions (like Jaguar’s). When Lincoln launched the new Continental earlier in 2017, it unveiled another method: Digital Light Projection (DLP). The company says it’s the biggest and brightest of all, and compatible with Ray-Bans. Now it’s available in the Navigator.

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6) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator can’t play Moonlight Sonata.

These days, most automatic transmissions in luxury vehicles don’t have a mechanical shifter. It’s all done electronically. Even if it seems like there is one, it’s often just a large switch made to simulate a shift lever. But this allows some leeway on how to select Drive or Park or Reverse. Mercedes-Benz often deploys a stalk on the steering column. Jaguar has a rotary dial that rises out of the center console. In other Lincoln models, there’s a vertical row of buttons to the left side of the central display. The new Navigator has what Lincoln describes as “piano keys.” Only they’re nothing like any piano, apart from the fact that these switches are arranged horizontally.

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7) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator doesn’t trash trailers.

Trailer Backup Assist is a feature that steers the Navigator automatically when reversing while hitched up to a trailer. This task can be tricky for humans. But computers, cameras, sensors and electrically assisted steering can now take over. This system first appeared in the Ford F-150 and it can keep 10 separate trailers in its memory, up to a length of 33 feet from the hitching point to the trailer’s axles. No one outside of Lincoln has seen the new Navigator do anything with a trailer so far, but it’s a safe assumption that its Trailer Backup Assist feature will be similar or possibly even better.

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8) The 2018 Lincoln Navigator is a gadget geek’s playground.

The standard WiFi system can handle up to 10 devices, the front center console offers wireless charging, there are no less than six USB ports distributed around the cabin, plus four 12-volt sockets and one 115-volt outlet. Smartphones are integrated through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Naturally, a rear-seat entertainment system is available. And anyone who owns a Slingbox can stream their choice of cable and satellite TV shows while on the move. In case that all feels a bit overwhelming, Lincoln also allows the front passenger to control what other passengers can see. So there might be family arguments, but there are limits to what even a new Lincoln Navigator can do.

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9) Light speed is possible in the 2018 Lincoln Navigator.

Kind of. It has intelligent, adaptive headlamps. Drive slowly and the light pattern is wide, bringing a much better chance of seeing a partially obscured street sign or showing that pedestrian dressed in dark clothes. Go faster, and the light pattern is narrower and more focused, so there are fewer glares reflected off road signs and the like. The lights themselves are LED and the daytime running light section comes on in a cool sequence that serves no practical purpose, but sometimes doing something just for the effect is perfectly acceptable.

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10) It allows you to revel in the sound from a Revel Sound System.

Revel products are usually found in the homes of people who don’t mind paying a lot of money for extremely good speakers. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima II system is among the equipment available in the new Navigator, either as an option or standard in the highest trim level, which is Black Label. It has different modes: traditional stereo; giving the impression that the listener is in a concert audience (in one of the expensive seats, naturally), or located right among the musicians. The Navigator also has laminated glass at the front and sides to help keep the cabin quiet, so its music system can be appreciated even more.

Photo by Lincoln