What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- The Lincoln Navigator is a three-row, luxury full-size SUV with standard four-wheel drive.
- A 440-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 is the only engine offered.
- Pricing starts at $94,890 (all prices include a $2,895 destination fee).
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size, three-row SUV based on the Ford Expedition. It’s available in standard- and long-wheelbase versions; the Navigator L is stretched 9 inches between the axles and is 11.9 inches longer overall. All of that extra length goes into the cargo area, with legroom in all three rows of seats staying consistent between the Navigator and Navigator L. You can opt for captain’s chairs or a bench seat in the second row, giving the Navigator a seating capacity of seven or eight people, respectively.
What’s New for 2026?
The entry-level Premiere trim rejoins the Navigator lineup for 2026 after a brief hiatus, bringing the base price down several thousand dollars. There are no significant changes to the existing trim levels.
Pricing
With just a single drivetrain available, the Navigator’s pricing is straightforward: In each trim level, the long-wheelbase Navigator L is priced $3,000 more than the standard-wheelbase SUV. The following prices are correct as of July 2026 (manufacturers sometimes change a vehicle’s pricing over the course of a model year):
Navigator
- Premiere: $94,890
- Reserve: $104,890
- Black Label: $122,420
Navigator L
- Premiere: $97,890
- Reserve: $107,890
- Black Label: $125,420
Trims and Features
As Ford’s luxury brand, Lincoln has access to its parent company’s full suite of safety technologies. BlueCruise hands-free semi-autonomous highway driving is standard on the Navigator (although keeping it active requires an ongoing subscription). That system’s necessary sensors and cameras enable a multitude of other driver-assist functions, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure steering assist, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, and front and rear parking sensors.
Premiere
As Lincoln’s flagship model, the Navigator comes well equipped even in its entry-level Premiere trim. It rides on an adaptive suspension with 22-inch wheels and features LED head- and taillights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a hands-free power liftgate, keyless entry and start, and adaptive headlights that turn with the steering wheel to better illuminate curves. Inside, you’ll find synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel with a power tilt/telescoping column, heated second-row seats, three-zone automatic climate control and ambient lighting. Cabin tech includes a dash-spanning 48-inch combination digital instrument cluster and infotainment display controlled by a smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen in the center stack. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and phone charging are also standard, as is a 14-speaker Revel sound system.
Reserve
The mid-tier Reserve trim adds power-deployable running boards, a panoramic moonroof, leather upholstery and a 28-speaker Revel audio system.
Black Label
At the top of the lineup, the Black Label features unique wheels, exclusive upholstery and interior trim choices, Lincoln’s 30-way adjustable front seats with massage, heated third-row seats and power-adjustable pedals.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
Every Navigator is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 making 440 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque. If you’d like to bask in a little reflected glory, know this engine is an only slightly detuned version (10 hp fewer) of the V-6 in the desert-crushing Ford F-150 Raptor. But be careful with that boast around Expedition owners, as the same engine is available with 440 hp in that SUV’s Platinum and Tremor trim levels.
The Navigator’s V-6 is backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. Power, mass and 4WD conspire against efficiency, although no more in the Navigator than in any of its rivals: The Lincoln’s 17 mpg combined rating is average for its class.
|
Trim |
Powertrain |
City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Combined MPG |
|
All |
Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 |
15 |
22 |
17 |
Interior
The Navigator’s cavernous cabin can comfortably seat adults in all three rows. Heated, ventilated and massaging seats can be had in both the first and second rows. The massive digital dashboard looks impressive, but navigating the menus on the smaller touchscreen can be onerous. In order to optimize the driver’s sight line to the dashboard display, the Navigator has a “squircle” steering wheel instead of a round one, and our editors found it awkward to use. Even so, the Navigator’s environment is one of true luxury, with quality materials and pleasing design imparting a rich feel — particularly in the Black Label version.
Versus the Competition
The Navigator’s primary rivals are also domestic: the Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, both of which are also available in short- and long-wheelbase configurations. The Escalade is slightly more expensive to start, while the Grand Wagoneer is much more affordable — but its relatively uninspired interior styling and construction track with its lower price. Infiniti doesn’t make an extended-length QX80, but if you’re considering the standard-wheelbase Navigator, the QX80’s unique look and plush cabin make it a compelling alternative, as well.
The Navigator’s 8,700-pound towing capacity betters all of its rivals listed above except for the Grand Wagoneer, which can lug up to 10,000 pounds. If pulling the biggest trailer isn’t your top priority, the BMW X7 is also worth a look. It’s less expensive than the Navigator and vastly more fuel-efficient with its base engine — even its available 523-hp, twin-turbo V-8 ekes out a win over the Navigator — but it doesn’t have the adult-friendly third row of the other competitors mentioned here.
Do We Like the Lincoln Navigator?
The Navigator’s vast and comfy cabin makes it a great road tripper for large families with lots of stuff, and standard BlueCruise means even the driver can arrive refreshed no matter how long the drive. BlueCruise has the added benefit of minimizing the driver’s time handling this SUV’s awkward oval steering wheel, which, along with its fussy infotainment controls, detracts from an otherwise serene experience. This Lincoln’s adaptive suspension does a good job filtering out most road impacts, but if you’re considering the optional 24-inch wheels, be sure to test-drive them before you commit.
