Overview & Reviews

Since its pioneering days in the 1990s as the first full-size luxury SUV, the Lincoln Navigator has always been a traditional truck-based SUV with standard V8 power. Over the course of its three generations, the Navigator has offered seating for seven to eight and plenty of cargo and towing capacity. As such, it often appeals to large families and/or those with a boat or trailer to tow.

Drawbacks to the early Navigators included subpar fuel economy, sluggish acceleration, sloppy handling and an interior that didn't really live up to other luxury brands. Although the current Lincoln Navigator is certainly the most advanced, those drawbacks continue to this day when stacked up against its rivals. Add in a retro interior design that looks both intentionally and unintentionally dated, and you get a full-size luxury SUV that is far past its prime.

Current Lincoln Navigator
The current Lincoln Navigator is a full-size SUV styled and equipped for an upscale audience. It shares the bulk of its underpinnings with the Ford Expedition, including its standard 310-horsepower 5.4-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission. Navigator buyers have a choice between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.

The Navigator is offered in one well-appointed trim level that includes 18-inch wheels, three-row seating for seven (with captain's chairs in the second row), leather upholstery, multizone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second- and third-row seats, Sync voice activation, a navigation system, Bluetooth, a power liftgate, power-folding third-row seats and a 14-speaker surround-sound audio system. Stand-alone options include 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, a heavy-duty tow package and a dual display rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

The ability to seat adults comfortably in all three rows of seats is the Lincoln Navigator's greatest advantage over other full-size competitors, most notably the Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator's independent rear suspension allows for a lower floor, which opens up more rear legroom while providing fold-flat capability for the third row. Besides its dated interior and cumbersome driving dynamics compared to more modern SUVs, the Navigator also suffers from lackluster acceleration and fuel economy.

Used Lincoln Navigator Models
The present, third-generation Navigator took to the stage in 2007 with significant updates to the exterior styling, frame and rear suspension, along with larger brakes, higher-quality cabin furnishings and additional sound insulation. These changes added significantly to curb weight, but yielded tidier handling dynamics and a quieter, more refined ride.

The 2007 refresh also brought about a pronounced, chrome-heavy grille design that was reminiscent of an early 1960s Continental as well as a similarly retro-inspired cabin design that further differentiated the Navigator from its Expedition roots. Two years later the Navigator gained 10 more hp, Ford's Sync voice control system and a more advanced, hard-drive-based navigation system that allowed voice activation. Only minor feature updates have occurred since.

For other used Navigators, you'll want to check out the two previous generations. The second generation was in production from 2003-'06 and featured many revisions inside and out, compared to the first generation. In addition to a larger grille and numerous other styling changes, this variant was the first to incorporate a six-speed transmission and an independent rear suspension. One of the more prominent interior alterations included a symmetrical, dual-cockpit layout also inspired by vintage Lincoln Continentals.

Consumers looking at used Lincoln Navigators would be wise to confine their search to 2005 and newer models, as Navigators sold in 2003 and '04 had an older version of the 5.4-liter engine. It had a 300-hp rating but produced less torque than the current engine. It also came paired to a less sophisticated four-speed automatic transmission. Safety-conscious buyers should note that Navigators sold before '07 did not have front-seat side airbags and only provided side curtain coverage for the first two rows of seating. Stability control was optional rather than standard, up until the '05 model year.

The first generation Lincoln Navigator was sold from 1998-2002. It arrived one year after Ford's Expedition hit the market and was basically a rebadged version of that vehicle but with softer leather, extra wood grain trim and additional chrome detailing. The differences weren't so easy to spot, especially on the inside where Lincoln's dash design hardly differed at all. In fact, the Navigator's most noticeable distinction over the Expedition was its higher price, and indeed the first-gen Navigator enjoyed one of the highest profit margins of any vehicle on the market.

First-year Navigators were considered underpowered, as a 230-hp 5.4-liter V8 was their sole source of motivation. Things improved in 1999 when the Navigator got exclusive access to a 300-hp, double-overhead-cam version of the 5.4-liter V8. Compared to today's large SUVs, the first-gen Navigator was decidedly trucklike in its demeanor. Continual course correction was necessary to keep it pointed straight ahead on the highway, and the steering had a disconnected feel, whether you were finessing the Lincoln into a parking space or going around a curve at speed.

If you're shopping for a used Lincoln Navigator from this generation, it's a good idea to pay attention to the year-by-year changes. In addition to the more powerful V8, 1999 Navigators gained power-adjustable pedals and more easily removable third-row seats (thanks to rollers mounted on the bottoms). For 2000, the Navigator received front-seat side airbags, much needed optional rear parking sensors and a CD-based navigation system. Rear-seat video entertainment

User Reviews:

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  Lincoln Ultimate 4X4 - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Satisfied Owner-DWS - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Love the options and the attention given the vehicle by others. My wife is short and had problems with entering my 2000 Navigator. The deployble running boards are excelle

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  Paying for looks, not substance - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Jon - April 23 - 7:10 pm

  Problems include: alternator that went out 800 miles after warranty, torque converter and other associated parts needed to be replaced at 75,000 miles, outside door panels that vibrate on interstate, the memory on the outside mirrors have amnesia- they never go back to the same place after they are moved. 13.5 mpg (which I expected. If you are buying one, be prepared to spend some money at the service department.

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  2005 Navi Ultimate - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By njbaran99 - April 14 - 9:10 pm

  have the Navi for 1 week now and lovethe SUV, so far. Strongly considered QX56/Armada but had concern on the brakes Issues. Also looked at Escalade, but felt too much like a suburban and Durango was just too small. Navi(s) are a highway cruiser if there ever was one. This beast weighs 6,000# which is heavy, but complements the ride and adds to firmness on the road. A little concerned about expected reliability, as some have reported major electrical issues, hope they got all this figured out by the 2005 Model. I got the Navi just under invoice with all available incentives, so it was a bit pricey, compared to some alternatives, but plan to keep it long enough to enjoy as it depreciates.

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  I love my Nav - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By KRM - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This was a used vehicle and the dealership and Lincoln have been great to work with. I didnt realize it was such a status symbol. I bought it for the room and the ride.

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  NOT HAPPY - 2012 Lincoln Navigator
  By foxyd - March 20 - 4:29 pm

  Ive had more frustration with this vehichle than I can possibly imagine. Ive tried working with both the dealer and Lincoln to no help. If I were you, Id buy a Caddy!

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  2011 Lincoln Navigator Limited Edition - 2011 Lincoln Navigator
  By dlewis3494 - March 11 - 11:10 pm

  I really like the vehicle. It super comfortable to drive. The one let down I have found is that it only has a single disc CD/DVD player. I would have thought a luxuary car would have a 6 disc player. Quality is some of the best I have seen but some of the SYNC/Navigation system is taking a while to learn. I have had 4 trucks with the SYNC before this one and this one is different. Some of this high tech stuff is hard for us older folks to learn, but the comfort is there.

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  All Around Great - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By Dick Dillon - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new and it was 4 yrs old. in Aug. I have never had a better car for overall looks and performance. I get about 15 mph on trips and 13.5 around town. That is not far from the 1987 Pathfinder that I traded in. The performance is well worth the extra gas that it uses. The main difference is the price I have to pay for the premimum gas that is recommended by the manufacturer. Im 74 years old and pretty sure this well out live me by many years. Im happy to have lived long enough to enjoy my remaining years in such comfort. Its like riding around in your living room.

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  2007 Licoln Navigator L - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By dtipainter - February 22 - 7:23 pm

  After owning the car for 9 months, I have few suggestions for improvement: The A/C cooled seats dont have enough cooling power on hot days. You cant even tell if they are operating if it is above 90 outside. The center console is very very busy. It is very difficult to find controls while driving for specific actions because there are so many buttons, I am 6-3" tall and for me the vehicle has a very bad blind spot. I have almost moved over on other vehicles several times. Back up sensors are nice, but a backup camera option would have been nice.

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  Big Lincoln - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By Drew - February 1 - 10:26 pm

  This is a great truck. Easy to drive taking into consideration its size. I dont think I could ever go back to a car

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  One Sweet Ride - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By jakebank - January 25 - 12:20 am

  Just bought this car new and we absolutely love it. It has every single option that is available and it is a well designed vehicle. The interior cannot be beat. Compared to the Escalade and the Infiniti QX56 the interior if far superior. Good performance and adequate gas mileage for a vehicle this big. Everyone takes a second look at you when youre driving this thing. We got the white chocolate paint and its beautiful. Excellent car and I would reccomend it to anyone.