2011 Lincoln Navigator
MSRP $57,630
Every brand has its “franchise player.” It can be big or small, but it is the one car that when you drive down the road, everybody knows what it is and what company made it. First, it was the Continental. Then, it was its top trim level, the Town Car. Now, it is the Navigator.
Lincoln is Ford’s luxury arm. It went through a bit of a slump, but will be coming back in a big way. Ford is closing down Mercury after this year, and is counting on Lincoln to pick up the slack. Lincoln will be introducing as many as seven different vehicles during the next two years, but none will be as important to the success of the line as the Navigator. Ford and Lincoln know this, and it is pretty much guaranteed that they are doing everything they can to make this vehicle an industry icon again.
The 2011 Lincoln Navigator is a full sized luxury SUV. It has a 5.4 liter, V8 engine that produces 310 horsepower. It has 18-inch alloy wheels, rear wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission. It is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. An upgrade to 4-wheel drive is available.
Befitting its status as a luxury vehicle, the Navigator has a lot of conveniences and standard features. It seats 7 passengers in three rows. It has power front seats that are both heated and ventilated, a tilt-telescope steering column, heated second and third row seats, a driver seat memory, folding third row seat, 2-zone automatic climate control with rear controls, leather upholstery, and the Sync voice command system. The 14-speaker surround sound audio system has Bluetooth, HD radio, a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, and a USB/iPod port.
The Navigator comes with stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags all the way back, and trailer sway control. It also has the Ford MyKey system which allows you to program the keys of other drivers, such as your teenagers, and limit both their speeds and stereo volume. As this model usually does, the Navigator aced every government crash test.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
This is a great vehicle. The interior is well-designed and very attractive, with soft-touch materials everywhere you look. The seats are comfortable, and there is plenty of both headroom and legroom for everyone all around. There is also plenty of cargo space, and the third seat folds to make even more.
The ride is pure luxury. It is both quiet and smooth, and is great for short commutes or long trips. There are so many features in this SUV that it makes one almost feel pampered. The drive is very good. The steering is responsive while the suspension smooths out any sudden movements.
The only real negative here is the acceleration and power. The Navigator could use a few more “horses,” but it certainly isn’t a deal-breaker.
The verdict: highly recommended.
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