2022 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator has been the flagship of the luxury brand’s lineup since the late 1990s and like the naval vessels with the same title, this is a large vehicle. For drivers looking to carry up to seven of their friends in luxury, the 2022 version is still a great way to get down the road in style. This year Lincoln has given the Navigator a relatively mild mid-cycle update. Chances are most people won’t even notice the difference unless it is parked right next to a 2021 model and even then, the external changes are hard to spot. 

The fascia has been subtly reshaped to make the grille appear to extend all the way to the bottom edge and the head and tail lamps have been recontoured. Despite the less than dramatic changes, it still looks the part of a full-on luxury SUV and no one will mistake it for the Ford Expedition that shares major mechanical components. There are three trims available: Standard, Reserve and Black Label.

The performance of the Navigator is unchanged and acceleration is more than ample from its 440 horsepower twin-turbocharged V6. Fuel economy is better than the gas V8 powertrains in the Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer and about even with the now V6-powered Lexus LX 600, but significantly behind diesel in the Cadillac. Overall ride quality is no longer the class of the field since its domestic competitors gained sophisticated air suspensions, but it’s still very comfortable and well controlled.

The full-size SUV is available in two lengths, long and extra long at 210.0 and 221.9 inches, with one powertrain option, a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, a ten-speed automatic transmission and a choice between rear or four-wheel drive (4WD). It’s a three-row SUV by default with seven or eight seats, depending on trim. Pricing starts at $79,330 (Standard, including destination) and inches up to $91,520 (Reserve) and peaks with the $108,330 Black Label with a Central Park theme open-pore walnut veneer laser-etched with a map of the famous park. 

Second-row passengers can join front passengers in getting a massage while riding and be entertained (when equipped) with rear seat screens. Even in the standard length Navigator there is plenty of room for a pair of adults all the way back in the third row. Very slight cosmetic changes mean it’s still instantly recognizable as a modern Lincoln, still riffing on the design themes of the revived Continental from a few years ago. 

Drivers and front passengers will appreciate the larger 13.2-inch center touchscreen now powered by Ford’s latest SYNC 4, but with a distinct Lincoln skin. Now embedded within the system is Amazon’s Alexa Automotive voice recognition and Amazon Fire TV. Finally, smartphones can connect wirelessly with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Even with this update, the Navigator is no longer the freshest offering in this segment, but it remains a very strong overall competitor. 

Performance: 12/15

The 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque from the twin-turbocharged V6 put the Navigator ahead of the Escalade’s 420 hp 6.2-liter V8, but it falls short of the new-for-2023 turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder in the Grand Wagoneer L (produced 510-hp and 500 lb-ft) However, the available output provides more than enough acceleration performance for this big luxury flagship. 

The adaptive damping system and four wheel independent suspension provides the Lincoln with a comfortable ride and good body control, but the combination of the air springs and MagneRide dampers in the Escalade is even more supple. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts seamlessly and the Navigator never does anything unexpected. 4WD is optional and improves wet weather traction, but don’t expect this land barge to be as capable off-road as the Grand Wagoneer.

The Navigator has a towing capacity of 8,100 to 8,700 pounds depending on the length and drive configuration. That puts it slightly ahead of the Escalade, but shy of the 10,000 pound maximum for the Grand Wagoneer. 

Fuel Economy: 8/15

The RWD Navigator is rated at 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined with the 4WD variant scoring 1 mpg lower at 16/22/18 mpg. That places it solidly in the middle of the luxury large SUV segment above the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Infiniti QX80 and below the Cadillac Escalade and BMW X7, which achieve up to 22 and 21 mpg combined, respectively. While Lincoln has added plug-in hybrid options to the smaller Aviator and Corsair, there is still no electrified variant of the Navigator. 

Fuel economy is better than the gas V8 powertrains in the Escalade and Grand Wagoneer, but significantly behind diesel in the Cadillac. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The Lincoln Navigator hasn’t been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it has consistently achieved five-star scores in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) new car assessment program. It also comes equipped as standard with a broad range of driver assistance features including lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control. 

In addition, the Navigator is the first Lincoln to offer ActiveGlide hands-free highway driving capability, which includes an infrared driver monitoring system to detect when the driver looks away from the road. While ActiveGlide is not as capable as the Super Cruise system on the Cadillac Escalade, none of the other direct competitors offer hands-free capabilities.

Comfort & Room: 13/15

Only the longer and wider Grand Wagoneer offers more interior space in this luxury SUV segment. Even in the standard length Navigator there is room for a pair of adults to sit in the third row with three possible if they aren’t too broad-shouldered. Next year’s Grand Wagoneer L will offer even more room, so if you’re waiting to buy, it might be worth checking out.

The optional 30-way adjustable front seats should fit just about any body shape and they include heating and ventilation as well full body massage capabilities. New for the 2022 model is available massaging seats in the second row although they are less sophisticated than those in the front. Second row seats that fold and slide forward to provide easy access to the third row. 

Infotainment: 15/15

As expected in a modern luxury SUV, the Navigator features an impressive array of technology including the new-for-2022 13.2-inch center touchscreen for the SYNC 4 system and wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A multi-color head-up display shows vehicle data, navigation prompts and indicates when hands-free driving is available for ActiveGlide. 

Another new addition for 2022 is embedded Amazon Alexa voice control for infotainment, navigation, climate control and other Alexa skills as an alternative to the built-in voice recognition system. The Amazon integration continues to the rear seat entertainment which has integrated Fire TV capability to stream a variety of programs.  There are also ample USB-A and USB-C ports for charging devices throughout the interior. 

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

In addition to the 172 cubic-feet of passenger space, the Navigator offers 19.3 cubic-feet for cargo behind the third-row of seats in the standard length model and 34.3 cubic-feet in the extended length variant. That can grow to 103 and 120 cubic-feet, respectively, with the second- and third-row seats folded flat. Cadillac offers the largest cargo capacity in the segment, with up to 109.1 cubic-feet in its regular-wheelbase version and 126.6 in the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV.

Lincoln makes loading easier with switches in the rear cargo area that power the third-row seats down and up as well as flip the second-row seats forward. There is ample storage in the front row center console and glove box, as well as the second-row console on models equipped with captain’s seats.  

Style & Design: 9/10

The Navigator has a distinct design language shared with the rest of the Lincoln lineup but featuring proportions of its own that suit its full-size demeanor. Unlike the smaller Lincoln SUVs, the Navigator lacks the boat-tail taper toward the rear in favor of maximizing interior volume. It’s a handsome design that is instantly recognizable as a modern LIncoln and specifically as a Navigator. Similarly, the interior is consistent with the brand look and has no visible parts or surfaces that look like they came from a Ford. 

The materials are high quality including leather, metal and wood trim. The available Central Park theme on the Black Label features open pore walnut veneer that has been laser etched with a map of New York’s famous park. The piano key switches for transmission selection are unique to this brand and work well once accustomed to them.

Is the 2022 Lincoln Navigator Worth it? Which Navigator is the Best Value? 

It’s always a challenge to justify the extra cost of a premium model like the 2022 Navigator over a mainstream equivalent like the Ford Expedition. However, Lincoln has done a great job in recent years of creating a distinct and more expensive look and feel even if it’s the same basic underpinnings.

As is usually the case, the middle Reserve trim level of the 2022 Navigator is the best value proposition unless you really want everything like the massaging seats in both of the first two rows or the laser-etched map of Central Park from the Black Label. Features like hands-free ActiveGlide and a 14-speaker Revel audio system are included at the $91,520 (including a $1,695 destination fee) starting MSRP for the standard length, rear-drive model. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Lincoln Navigator?

The Navigator should cost as much to insure as most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium starting at $2,850 and going up to $3,270 for top trims, though this averages all 50 states. A Cadillac Escalade owner might pay around $2,850 per year, while the Infiniti QX80 is $2,760 and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is higher at $3,445 and more. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.