Video: 2018 Lincoln Navigator Review

Now after driving it for a couple of days, does it live up to the hype? Here's what works and what doesn't. I was driving around with a friend last weekend and she said riding in a Navigator is a lot like riding around in a couch, and she's close. It's a bit more like riding around in a recliner, a giant, plush, cushy recliner. This interior is among the most impressive I've ever been in, in terms of both features and comfort. One of my favorite features is activated before you even get in. The proximity-activated running boards make it a lot easier to climb into this beast. When your key is still in your purse or pocket, walk up to the vehicle and the running boards automatically deploy, like magic. Inside, these seats are nap-worthy. They're enormous, cushy, yet supportive, and offer seemingly infinite adjustments for maximum comfort. They're available with 30 different power adjustments and are also heated and ventilated, and come with a massage function. Materials quality is top-notch, too. Everything is padded, and looks and feels classy, from this low-gloss wood trim to the supple leather seats and surfaces. It doesn't disappoint, in terms of technology, either. The multimedia system is powered by the latest version of Sync, the Sync 3 system, and it has standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The screen is large, and it's mounted very high on the dash for good visibility, the touch screen is responsive, and everything is really easy to use. I did find the climate controls a little clumsy. Some are located separately under the screen, but then some are also in a menu within the touchscreen. The setup took a little bit of getting used to. There's a couple of bells and whistles in the backseat, too. First, the second and third rows are adult-friendly, in terms of both room and comfort, and feature a power fold option. Second, these illuminated seatbelt buckles are a really neat feature that helped my second-grader buckle up in the dark. Third, this second-row bench fits three car seats across, which not a lot of vehicles do, and has three sets of latch anchors. In terms of road manners, the Navigator drives like a couch, too. A really big, quiet one. The 450-horsepower twin turbo V6 felt like enough around town and on the highway, though I did not have it loaded with much, in terms of people or stuff. Its responsiveness is helped by a quick and smooth 10-speed automatic transmission. On the road, it drives like the long, heavy vehicle that it is. Its ride is soft and it shimmies over broken pavement. Its handling also feels clumsy at times, and it takes corners with a lot of body roll. Maneuverability is aided immensely by this multi-view camera, which makes parking much more manageable. All of that opulence comes at a price, a big one. Lincoln's new land yacht starts in the low 70s. This up-level Reserved Trim tops out at 89,000 after extras like burgundy velvet paint, and an up-level Revel audio system. With this redesign, Lincoln added heightened levels of style and comfort to a vehicle most known for forgettable trips to the airport. With the 2018 Navigator, it's more memorable in every way.