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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  Love it - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ric F - April 25 - 4:53 am

  Wanted a newer vehicle for the family to enjoy and love our Navigator. Spacious, comfortable, and a joy to cruise in around town and on the highway. Highway 16-20 MPG and around town 12-15. But we bought it for the total comfort and enjoyment of a Lincoln. My wife is a teacher and therefore has plenty of room for her compliment of daily needs for the classroom. Seperate controls for audio, video, and climate gives each their own true level of comfort. Not a lick of trouble since owning look forward to its years of service for us.

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  navigator 02 - 2002 Lincoln Navigator
  By r young - April 8 - 11:43 pm

  the car was fun to drive, had no trouble with it at all.

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  So-So Experience with Navigator - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Mike - April 6 - 4:50 am

  It was between this Navigator and a Range Rover Sport. The deals and financing Lincoln was offering was leaps and bounds better than Land Rover was offering. So far, the navigation system only works when it wants to and half the time doesnt know where the car is, or the screen wont come up. My biggest complaint is the seating. The heated/cooled seats are too firm and need to have softer filling. Beware that the Ultimate seats with the heating and cooling are stiffer than the standard luxury seats. After driving for a period of time, the seats are so stiff that my legs fatigue and become numb. The seats should be softer for a $60K vehicle and have not such a hard and unforgiving feel.

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  AWESOME NAVIGATOR - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By GTURNER - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I am a Navigator fanatic.This our 3rd one.We test drove the other SUVS and kept coming back to the Navi. Comparing price and equip. hands down the Navi. is the best bang for the buck.The handeling is great.It has the power that we need if we want to tow the boat or trailer the Harley.It is sporty yet luxurious @ the same time. It is also big enough for me and the family. I would only trade this for another unless a new SUV were born

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  03 Navigator - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By soglear - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I looove my truck! I had an 01 Suburban with a Regency conversion package prior to this truck, VERY nice looking. I miss my Suburban, but got what I was missing as far as quickness in my Navi. What a difference in the 03 models vs. 02 & earlier. 03, you feel like you are driving a car - earlier, the vehicle is more "truck" feeling, and a little top heavy.

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  2004 Navigator - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By EngrJim - March 21 - 10:00 am

  After 12,134 miles in our Navigator we have had no problems, not even minor mechanical or electrical ones. The seats and ride are both very comfortable and the engine is more than adequate. On a 5,000 mile vacation drive to several areas of the west, we even took it on some 4 X 4 only roads meant for Jeeps and although a little wide in places it performed well and I used low range on it for the first time ever and it got us to some places with spectacular views. Very quiet inside and a comfortable ride!

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  Lincoln Navigator is a Lemon - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By eallen - March 7 - 10:00 am

  The Lincoln Navigator is a lemon. since shelling out $53,000 for this vehicle, I have had nothing but one problem after another. From the cheap plastic exterior pieces falling off, the gimmicky automated functions screwing up, to being stranded with my children due to not only power steering leakage and transmission problems, but also engine trouble. This vehicle is a Ford Expedition that was retro-fitted with gimmicky features the computer programmers completely miscalculated. It uses cheap import parts. If you buy this vehicle after reading this, you deserve the lemon that you will get.

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  Not worth the operating cost - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Homer Gaines - February 23 - 6:03 am

  The gasoline milage of this vehicle is far below what was stated on the sticker. Lincoln says its my driving habits, but whether I use a feather on the accelerator or not, it still gets 8 MPG in normal driving, and the best I have gotten on the highway is 14MPG. And thats with a mighty tailwind!

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  Never had a problem... - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By K. H. - February 21 - 10:00 am

  Just parted with our navigator - time to move on to something new - but we miss it already! Never had a mechanical problem with the car. The only problem we had was with the drivers seat breaking down in the left rear corner (closest to the door), and had to have it replaced.. tho the cusion seemed to break down again (caves in/slants). We were the 2nd owners - and would buy another one in a heartbeat - but not a new one.. preowned ONLY (theyre too expensive). :)

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  Lincoln owner - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By David Lloyd - February 21 - 10:00 am

  great car it is fun to drive and very responsive - I was supprised how well it handles on curves - really tracks - kept up with a bmw on a very winding road with out a problem.