Full-size truck-based SUVs aren’t nearly as popular as they once were.  The price of gas continues to climb and buyers are switching over to the more popular crossover segment.  But for those who like or need that type of urban assault vehicle, the top choices usually include the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade.

With General Motors completing a thorough makeover of their line of big SUVs- including the GMC Yukon Denali and Cadillac Escalade for 2007- Lincoln had little choice but to freshen up the looks of the Navigator. 

Navigator is the better dressed more lavishly appointed sibling of the redesigned Ford Expedition, both are based on Ford’s F-series pickup truck. 

While substantially reworked, neither Expedition nor Navigator is a new vehicle like Denali and Escalade.  It’s certainly hard to miss the Navigator because of its massive chrome grill, chrome plated wheels, chrome exhaust pipes and chrome side trim.  Not enough chrome? For an additional $75, you can add a chrome hood accent.

Looking at the Navigator, it’s hard to see anything but the massive chrome grille that seems to mimic the 1946-48 Lincoln grilles.  However, Lincoln says it’s the front end of the 1961 Lincoln Continental that inspires the look.  Personally, I preferred the old waterfall grille on the previous Navigator.

Inside, the retro theme continues with a split dash that reminds me somewhat of the new Mustang.  Both the speedometer and tachometer are square (trimmed with more chrome) with a secondary row of four very small square gauges above them.  I liked the look but found them difficult to read.

The dash is trimmed with very dark woodgrain, identical to what I found inside the Lincoln LT pickup I tested some time back.  The console-mounted shift lever, door panels and steering wheel are finished in the same matching wood trim.

Still more chrome accents the front door panels with an embossed
“NAVIGATOR”.  Initially I liked the overall look of the interior, but I grew less fond of it the longer I drove the vehicle.  Still, I prefer the look to that of the new Escalade.

The seats are thick and extremely comfortable thanks to Lincoln’s relationship to Volvo, who helped with the design.  There’s a huge center armrest with ample storage between the front seats and another dividing the second-row seats.  Second row folds and tumbles and provides plenty of leg, head and hip room, but no power fold option.  Third row includes the power fold option, but doesn’t offer much in the way of passenger room. 

I tested the upscale Navigator Ultimate with four-wheel drive and the optional Elite package that includes a rear-seat entertainment system, navigation system, premium appearance package and power deploying running boards. 

Open the door and the running boards drop down and slide out, close the door and the process reverses to completely conceal the step.  Most everyone liked the running boards except me.  Not only did I find them awkward, but I also noticed brushing by them dirtied my clothes.  Thankfully they can be turned off.  

The lone engine used in the Navigator is Ford’s 5.4-liter, 300-horsepower V-8 with a new six-speed automatic transmission that replaced last year’s four-speed.  Performance was much weaker than the brawny 403-horsepower Escalade I tested.  I averaged just 13 mpg during my weeklong test, but Navigator requires only 87 octane versus 91 for the Escalade. 

The ride was nothing spectacular but certainly not unpleasant.  Handling was predictable, better than the previous generation but not to be mistaken for a sports sedan.  The cabin was noisier than expected at highway speeds, which I attributed to the optional 20-inch low profile tires.

Navigator comes standard with power adjustable pedals, remote keyless entry, 4-wheel disc brakes, reverse audio sensing backing system, power liftgate, heated and cooled leather, 10-way power seats, power moonroof, luggage rack, and HID headlamps.

Safety gear includes three-row side curtain airbags, thorax side airbags for the front row, Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability control system with Roll Stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system.  NHTSA awarded the Navigator its best five-out-of-five-star front crash-test rating and four-star rollover rating for the four-wheel drive model.  It has not been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

Navigator is available in two trim levels, Base and Ultimate; both are offered in either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and as an “L” extended length model, about an inch longer than either GMC Denali XL or Cadillac Escalade ESV.  Navigator has a huge price advantage over Cadillac with the base price at $45,755 for the 4X2 and $51,655 for the Navigator 4X4.  The Escalade starts at $55,570 making the Navigator seem a bargain.

Despite all the bling associated with the Navigator, I found plenty to dislike:  An old-fashioned tilt-steering column with no telescoping function; no backup camera either standard or optional; brakes that make even normal stopping almost a white-knuckle experience; an outdated navigation system that isn’t particularly easy to use; inadequate space on the dash and console for small items like loose change, cell phone, etc.; and no power folding second-row seat. All of these items are expected in a vehicle in this price segment.

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