Think of a worthy rival to the Cadillac Escalade and now add the unlikely quality of ‘value’ – one unheard of in the luxury segment. You have arrived at the Navigator. Traditionally known to be the arch rival of GM’s epitome of luxury, the Lincoln Navigator from the house of Ford has built an irrefutable case of majestic presence worthy of being among the prestige models in the upper echelons of automotive luxury.
The Design
Starting with its distinguished satin chrome mesh for a grille and a robust variant of its signature propellor-styled alloy wheels, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator makes a mark simply by the undeniable majesty of its presence. The car makes largeness a virtue that is underlined by the automatic side steps unfolding as you step down.
- 20” dark tarnished aluminium wheel
- Satin chrome mesh grille
Cabin comforts
Inside, the seat leather, the piping and the ventilated comfort with various levels and styles of massage set the tone for pampered travel while concert-style clarity of music from the 28-speaker Revel® Ultima 3D fills the cabin as a panoramic sunroof sunbathes the cabin.
The Navigator offers you a choice of configuration but the one that goes best with the luxury perhaps is the captain’s seat styling. Storage is neatly arranged with no dearth of space in this cruise ship. The console has two flap lids – one housing the wireless charger and the other cupholders. The split lift gate and bottom lid can be opened or closed from inside. The Escalade displays an upper hand with its 38-speaker AKG system, the new automatic door closure and the elegant, soft closure – the latter two not present in the Lincoln.
Heated and ventilated Leather seats with massage
24-way adjustable memory driver seat / 22-way front passenger
Second-row heated seats with power tip and slide
Third-row split bench seats with power fold
Panoramic Vista Roof
Tri-zone climate control
Boot space: 1019 L with all seats up • 2048 L behind the second row • 3398L with the two rear rows folded
Cabin Tech
Spread from pillar to pillar is a seemingly endless curved screen with data looming large – for instance, the date and time. The primary purpose of the upper screen seems to let the luxury of pixels to sink in, because the audio, phone and the car settings are all managed on a wide but more ‘normal’ central screen. The steering houses a touch dial on either side – not a particularly seamless selection of functions – the side view mirror adjustment or folding for example. Thankfully, it gets slightly quicker and easier with time. The console has a convenient (and good looking) volume control dial, a press down of which renders it mute. Connecting my phone via Android Auto was quick and enabled navigation relayed from the phone.
The Drive
Lincoln Navigator is powerful and drives home the point without having to be very loud. The sound of the engine impresses like the deep bass of its REVEL music system. This marks the most obvious contrast with Cadillac’s flagship which still employs a gargantuan 8-cylinder pot while the Navigator is driven by a 3.5L Twin Turbo V6. However, 440 hp and 691 Nm of torque is even more impressive than the V8 output and gives it a contemporary edge. The 90-litre tank promised the upper ranges of five hundred km (more than 6 km per litre) while a 10-speed transmission keeps the shifts smooth and (somewhat) efficient. The All Wheel Drive Navigator keeps driving modes interesting, calling them Excite, Conserve, Slippery, Deep conditions and Slow Climb clearly conveying the conditions of use. The RESERVE trim I test drove came with Adaptive Suspensions.
While the bigness of the vehicle is tangible in instances like sweeping into the first lane of a highway, the Navigator always underlines its size like a cruise ship does and towers above most cars vying for the fast lane space. There are two manual electronic shifter buttons for gear change on the console. Parking lot pillars call for added attention in tighter spaces but the maneuverability is commendable while turning into ramps.
Safety
The safety package is comprehensive and includes turn indicator-activated cameras showing what’s in the lane next door on a strip screen on the dash.
Airbags: Two Dual stage front, Two Front seat slide, Two curtain airbags
Hill start assist and Hill descend control
Lincoln Co-pilot 360 2.0: Pre-collision assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Evasive Steer Assist
Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert
Rear Cross Traffic Braking and Intersection Assist
Lane Keeping System
Adaptive Cruise Control
360-degree camera and driver alert (Guidelines are excellent)
Front and rear parking sensors
Post collision braking / E-call etc
The essential Lincoln Navigator
The majestic return of the Navigator a few years ago with refreshed design and a bold conqueror’s attitude churns out a list of luxury features but what is even more impressive is the unparalleled value offered in a segment that has become value-conscious, too. Lincoln Navigator Reserve trim is priced about 90,000 dirhams less than the Cadillac Escalade starting price. The choice of a smaller tubo-charged engine with a formidable output also makes a statement that does not go unnoticed, just as design and graphic innovations don’t.
Lincoln Navigator RESERVE: AED 377,905
