Front-engine, AWD
Twin-turbo 90-deg V-8, alum block/
heads, plus electric motor
DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
243.0 cu in/3,982cc
10.5:1
483 hp @ 5,500 rpm (gas), 21 hp (elec);
483 hp (comb)
516 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm (gas), 184 lb-ft (elec);
516 lb-ft (comb)
6,250 rpm
11.7 lb/hp
9-speed automatic
3.27:1/1.96:1/–
Control arms, air springs, adj shocks,
anti-roll bar; multilink, air springs,
adj shocks, anti-roll bar
18.7:1
2.8
14.8-in vented, drilled disc; 13.6-in
vented disc, ABS
9.5 x 23-in; 11.5 x 23-in forged aluminum
285/40R23 107Y; 325/35R23 111Y Pirelli
P Zero M0
123.4 in
65.7/66.6 in
205.0 x 77.0 x 71.8 in
7.9-8.5 in
NA-27.0/NA-24.0 deg
39.4 ft (wall-to-wall)
5,662 lb
53/47%
7,700 lb
6
39.4/40.2/38.9 in
40.3/41.9/34.6 in
59.3/58.5/50.3 in
84.7/42.7/17.4 cu ft
1.8 sec
2.6
3.5
4.7
6.0- 5
9. 4
11.8
2.3
13.2 sec @ 105.9 mph
116 ft
0.83 g (avg)
27.2 sec @ 0.66 g (avg)
1,400 rpm
$99,795
$108,135
Yes/Yes
9: Dual front, f/m side, f/m/r curtain,
driver knee
4 years/50,000 miles
4 years/50,000 miles
4 years/50,000 miles
23.8 gal
16/21/18 mpg
211/160 kWh/100 miles
1.08 lb/mile
Unleaded premium2020 Mercedes-Benz
GLS 580 4Matic the Navigator’s Ford underpinnings is
its ride. “The Lincoln suffers the same
fine ride quality issue as the Cadillac,”
Evans said. “Both cars suffer the same
big-wheels/skinny-sidewalls syndrome,
but you feel it more in the Lincoln.”
The Navigator Black Label’s cabin
more than makes up for any ride quality
flaws. The Navigator is one of those
luxury vehicles where you open the door
and immediately feel like you’ve stepped
into a private luxury chalet. Its interior
design, which carries through all three
incredibly spacious and comfortable
rows, recalls a bygone era of automobile
design, with a lovely long, concave strip
of wood on the dash, beautifully finished
leather, and piano black and satin silver
accents. This generation of Navigator is
the first, well, ever, to feel worth its price
tag—$98,850 as tested, in this case.
Everywhere we looked in the
Navigator, we found a feature we loved—
from the supremely comfortable 30-way
front seats to the high-quality Revel
Ultima audio system and thick, cushy
carpeted floormats. Morrison and
Segura were particularly fond of the
floating center console (despite some
disappointing squeaking). “The center
console is innovative and resourceful,
and it provides a ton of storage,” Segura
said. Morrison added, “Just being in this
car is a joy, just the feeling it gives you
from a styling standpoint. It’s my favorite
interior of the lot.”
The Lincoln Navigator Black Label
truly feels a cut above and beyond the
others. It’s the best balance of actual
honest-to-goodness luxury, comfort,
value, and driving experience. Moreimportant, the Lincoln Navigator is the
most cohesive and convincing luxury
three-row SUV on the market.
To think: Philosophers like Nietzsche
and Schopenhauer might have had to
write new chapters about fulfillment
of desires if they were part of our
comparison test panel.
And as time comes full circle with the
conclusion of this test, let us remember
that McConaughey loves his Lincolns and
likely would depart from his character’s
rabbit hole of existentialist thought to
pronounce these results to be very much
all right, all right, all right. Q*Horsepower and torque
values using 93-octane fuelAPRIL 2021 MOTORTREND.COM 55The Lincoln Navigator’s stereo system made
it easy (and enjoyable) to drown out the
occasional rattles from its center console.