2025 Lincoln Navigator Review: When Size Stops Making Sense

• Massive cabin with luxurious second-row seats, but limited flexibility for family use

• Twin-turbo V6 delivers incredible torque and sound, at the expense of fuel efficiency

• Tech-heavy cabin looks slick but is less intuitive and too focused on screen drama

Lincoln‘s flagship SUV has always been about going big. That’s no surprise coming from a brand that waved goodbye to sedans like the Town Car and Continental years ago. For 2025, the Navigator doubles down on its oversized luxury formula with an updated cabin, even more tech, and serious road presence. But after a week with the latest Reserve model, I couldn’t help but come to the conclusion that all this excess isn’t actually helpful; it’s just for show.

Let’s talk numbers first. My 2025 Navigator Reserve tester starts at just under $130,000, and this one, with the Jet Appearance Package and second-row massage seats, comes in around $140K before taxes. You can even go Black Label for $152K if you really want to flex.

At 5.33 metres long (and 5.65 m for the extended L version), this thing is a rolling billboard for size. It tows 8,700 lbs, thanks to a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 making 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. On paper, that’s impressive. On the road? Even more so.

This V6 is one of the best I’ve experienced. It sounds good, almost too good, and it’s shockingly quick. Mat the throttle and the Navigator hauls its mass with a sense of urgency that borders on alarming. The 10-speed automatic is equally well-tuned: no hesitation, no fuss, just creamy, seamless shifts every time.

Where things get tricky is the ride. In “Normal” drive mode, the adaptive suspension is tuned for comfort. More precisely, far too much floaty comfort. On certain surfaces, the Navigator pitches and rolls around like a boat caught in a wake. It’s soft, disconnected, and honestly made me a bit queasy. Switch to “Excite” mode and everything tightens up, including throttle response and damper stiffness. It’s how I ended up driving it most of the time.

Fuel economy? Lincoln claims just over 13L/100 km combined. In reality, I averaged closer to 15.8. Fair enough as this is a huge SUV with loads of power.

Inside, Lincoln wants to wow you with tech – it worked on all my passengers. The dashboard is dominated by a gargantuan 48-inch screen that stretches across the top of the dashboard and is accessible via a second 11.1-inch screen mounted far too low. It looks clean, but it isn’t all that usable. The lower screen requires you to look well below the road to adjust basic functions. HVAC controls are touchscreen-based, too, elegant, but distracting.

I get that Lincoln wanted a tidy dash-top design and room for its fancy Revel speakers, but it’s clear that screen size was prioritized over user experience. The haptic steering wheel buttons are just as frustrating. If your finger isn’t perfectly aligned, you end up triggering the wrong command. None of this is intuitive.

Here’s where my frustration really peaked. Yes, the second-row captain’s chairs are luxurious. They are heated, cooled, massaging, and supremely comfy. However, if you’re trying to use the Navigator as a proper family hauler for more than two kids, things fall apart. The massive fixed centre console between those seats ruins third-row access. You can’t walk through, and even with the seat slowly powered forward, access is tight.

The third row itself? Surprisingly great. Decent headroom and a seat cushion that doesn’t leave your knees at your ears. But getting back there is too much hassle if you’re loading kids or car seats.

Cargo space behind the third row is a respectable 649 litres, and dropping the rear bench opens up 1,722 litres. That’s generous, but considering how big the truck is, it’s not revolutionary. The split tailgate is a nice touch, though it’s great for keeping grocery bags from rolling out.

Visually, the Navigator is sharp. The Jet Appearance Package, with its 22-inch black wheels and blacked-out accents, looks sleek without going overboard. It has presence and lots of it. And for some buyers, that might be enough.

But living with it reveals the compromises behind the flash. The screen setup, the overly soft ride in default mode, and the second-row layout —truly, it all starts to feel like size for size’s sake. A typical midsize SUV would do at least as well. It’s as if Lincoln replaced the luxury sedan with an SUV simply to stay relevant, not to actually deliver more practicality.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator is fast, smooth, and loaded with tech. But it struggles with the basics. Want a proper large luxury SUV? The BMW X7 M60i still takes the crown for me. Same price, more engagement, and no awkward second-row surprises. The Escalade is another solid option if presence is your top priority.

For all its brawn and beauty, the Navigator just isn’t as versatile or user-friendly as it should be. It’s a lot of SUV in it, just not always in the ways that matter.

2025 Lincoln Navigator

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