The 2020 Lincoln Navigator marks a return to form for American luxury SUVs. It’s a massive, stylish land yacht that makes no apologies for its glitz and opulence. It’s easily Lincoln’s best model on sale, and the most comfortable vehicle to wear the badge in decades. We give it 7.4 out of 10 overall. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
For 2020, the Navigator gets a few changes to keep it fresh, including a smartphone-based key and a suite of active safety features including blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and active lane control as standard. A new Monochromatic Trim line for Reserve models limits paint choices to just white or black with an interior to match. Finally, heated and cooled front seats now come standard too, as well as power running boards and a wireless phone charger.
Almost nothing on the road has quite as much presence as the Navigator. The massive SUV blends sleek, sharp character lines with big statement pieces like the huge grille, bright LED headlights, and full-width taillight design. Black Label models turn up the drama with turbine-style wheels and unique interior touches. The Navigator also sports one of Ford’s best interiors ever; it’s filled with high-quality switchgear, bright and interesting displays, and plenty of color choices. It’s both ultra-modern and thoughtfully retro at the same time.
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The Navigator comes in base, select, Reserve, and Black Label trims, but every model comes with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 with an energetic 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. With a 10-speed automatic transmission and either rear- or all-wheel-drive, the Navigator can haul or tow just about anything a full-size pickup can: Maximum towing capacity is 8,700 pounds with an upgraded rear hitch (8,100 pounds without).
Thanks to an independent rear suspension design and adaptive shocks and steering, the Navigator feels more maneuverable than its size would suggest, and more confident on the road than its chief rivals from General Motors.
Available in either standard or extended-wheelbase Navigator L form, all versions seat up to eight occupants, seven with captain’s chairs in the second row. The cabin is well-appointed and plush, and the optional 30-way front seats make it almost impossible not to find a comfortable seating position. With a digital gauge cluster, a surround-view camera system, optional 4G LTE wi-fi, an upgraded 20-speaker Revel audio system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and an available rear seat entertainment system that can stream Sling TV, the Navigator is a world-class road trip vehicle, especially for families.
Now with active safety features standard, the Navigator is one of the safest full-size luxury SUVs, with five stars all around from the federal government with only one star missing in the rollover category, typical of large SUVs. Fuel economy, however, does not fare so well, as even the thriftiest rear-wheel-drive model only makes 19 mpg combined.