Vehicle Spotlight: 2018 Lincoln Navigator

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about the new Lincoln Navigator. Any enthusiast’s news feed will feature at least one write up about this luxury SUV. And you know why? Because it damn well deserves it. I swear, if the Lincoln Navigator could travel back in time (which I’m not fully convinced that it can’t) and meet the company’s namesake, Honest Abe would have himself a field day. He’d ride all over his Illinois home with a renewed sense of purpose, spoiling himself a little, and the Civil War would have ended two years sooner. Because all jokes aside, the Navigator really is presidential. And even better? It’s available to us plebs.

Lincoln Navigator, A Pretty Penny

Well, kind of. It starts at $72,005. That’s a hefty price tag. However, it hasn’t held people back from purchasing. And you can bet that kind of buying power has prompted competitors to step up their game. Make no mistake, it’s a war, and the Lincoln Navigator has taken the last few battles.

Retail sales have grown 101.6% compared to March of 2017, with the average transaction price also skyrocketing $25,600 per vehicle. And yes, over the last decade or so, the Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade have made a splash in the luxury SUV market. But just last year, Cadillac offered a $5,000 price slash to any buyer who trades in a 1999 or newer Lincoln model. Take one look at the Navigator and you’ll understand the reason for that fear.

Movin’ On Up

People having been drooling over the Lincoln’s interior overhaul. Three rows of leather seating, as well as chrome accents, ensure a comfortable and stylish ride. And with seating for seven, the new Lincoln Navigator features 39.5 inches of head space, the best second- and third-row leg room in its class, and a whopping 103 cubic feet of cargo space (with the back two rows folded down).

Adding to its creature comforts is a reconfigurable 12-inch LCD instrument cluster and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The new Navigator also boasts Head-Up Display, with what the company says is “the brightest windshield-projected informational display and biggest display size in its class.” Those in the second row enjoy monitors installed in the front headrests, and all passengers can tap into the available Lincoln Connect 4G LTE WiFi. With these amenities (and the price tag), it comes as no surprise that the new model’s Black Label trim offers uniquely extravagant interior themes like “Yacht Club,” “Destination,” and “Chalet.”

Commanding Power

And before you begin projecting frat boy stereotypes onto the 2018 Lincoln Navigator, know that it will perform with the best of them. It has an expected ten speed transmission, so no surprises there. But underneath, it’s packing the Ford Raptor’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6. With this setup, it cranks out 450 horsepower and generates 500 lb-ft of torque. That out shoots the 2017 Navigator by 70 and 40, respectively. It would be hard to NOT feel in control in this three-ton beast. But if there is a justified gripe, it is that the Navigator is 2WD standard, though 4WD is available in higher trims.

A Bright Future

Diabolically decadent, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator appeals to anyone with a love of well-made vehicles. (Even if it doesn’t necessarily meet the price range of every potential owner.) Although it feels like we are in the midst of a luxury SUV land grab, Lincoln is staking it’s claim at the top of the hill. With enough time and innovation, competitors will catch up and consumers will see a drop in baseline pricing. As SUVs continue their stronghold on the American market, the 2018 Lincoln Navigator may just be giving us a taste of the extravagant future that awaits everyday drivers.

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