The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Decadent seats with available massage
- Vast menu of safety and comfort features
- Big touchscreen
- Standard adaptive suspension
- Optional extended wheelbase
Dislikes
- That gas mileage, though
- Starts pricey, gets pricier
- Agility is an afterthought, if a thought at all
Buying tip
features & specs
With a cavernous cabin crafted for sublime comfort, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator prioritizes luxury.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Lincoln Navigator? What does it compare to?
Lincoln’s 2024 Navigator is a luxury SUV on a traditional full-size platform. There aren’t many traditional SUVs left, but the Navigator stands out for its polish and elegance amongst rivals like the Cadillac Escalade, BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Is the 2024 Lincoln Navigator a good SUV?
Yes, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator is a good SUV overall, held back mainly by its dismal fuel economy. It earns a TCC Rating of 7.2 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Lincoln Navigator?
The big news is that standard rear-wheel drive is dropped for 2024, so all Navigators are now four-wheel drive. The base model is now called Premiere and is now available with Lincoln’s BlueCruise limited hands-free highway driving system. Finally, Flight Blue Metallic returns after a hiatus and replaces Ocean Blue on the exterior color palette.
The Navigator features adaptive LED headlights framing a bold yet elegant grille, mirrored in the rear with sequential LED taillights.
A 13.2-inch touchscreen comes standard and can be upgraded with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The cabin also gets leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats, power-folding rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging. Seats are heated and cooled in the first and second rows, and can come with 30-way power adjustments up front and massage in the first and second rows. An extended wheelbase Navigator L adds 12 inches in length, increasing the cargo hold for about $3,000 more on all but the base Premiere.
Second-row passengers get a 5.8-inch touchscreen for climate controls, and rear passengers can be placated with optional 10.1-inch touchscreens with wireless headphones and Amazon Fire TV access. The Navigator is also available with a 28-speaker Revel stereo with eight overhead speakers.
This year, every Navigator model can be equipped with the BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist system, which better positions the Navigator against the Cadillac Escalade and its Super Cruise system. BlueCruise is a Level 2 semi-autonomous system compatible with 130,000 miles of North American highways (and counting). It maintains following distance and lane positioning, requiring only periodic driver intervention. BlueCruise operates on a subscription model after a trial period and requires native navigation.
The Navigator’s sole powertrain combines a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and newly standard four-wheel drive. It’s good for 440 hp, 510 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds.
Lincoln furnishes an adaptive suspension system equipped with a sensor network to adapt to road conditions on the fly, as well as plenty of standard safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, and park assist.
How much does the 2024 Lincoln Navigator cost?
The 2024 Navigator Premiere starts at $84,660. The Reserve is $97,220. The range-topping models are the Black Label, $112,645, and Black Label L, $115,690.
Where is the 2024 Lincoln Navigator made?
In Louisville, Kentucky.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Styling
Put us in touch with Lincoln’s tailor, please.
Is the Lincoln Navigator a good-looking SUV?
Expertly nipped and tucked, yes, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator looks good. Skillfully sculpted panels and a thoughtfully adorned cockpit with plenty of heritage elements combine to visually minimize the Navigator’s heft. It all adds up to a TCC Rating of 9.
A graceful front end defies the Navigator’s overall girth, and lots of glass lightens up the visual assault of the massively tall and long sides. LED lighting adds an elegant and modern touch.
The cabin is executed even better than the exterior, with a blend of modern and vintage elements executed with high-quality technology, leather, and wood. It’s not as overwhelming as it sounds, since the materials and shapes play well together. The Black Label interior themes may evoke some eye-rolling, at first, but even the Yacht Club’s nautical leather scheme works well once you lean into it.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Performance
The 2024 Lincoln Navigator’s smooth ride overshadows the twin-turbo engine.
The sturdy twin-turbo V-6 engine, standard four-wheel drive, and adaptive suspension system provide excellent technology to support the Navigator’s brawn. The ride quality and stout power each earn points, adding up to a 7.
How fast is the Lincoln Navigator?
The Navigator comes standard with a 450-hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 that makes 510 lb-ft of torque, sent to both axles through a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s capable of a sub-seven-second 60-mph run and triple-digit top speeds. When equipped with the trailering package, which offers backup assistance and reverse guidance, the Navigator can tow 8,700 pounds. That falls short of trucks like the mechanically related Ford F-150, but it’s more than enough for most potential buyers.
Is the Lincoln Navigator 4WD?
Yes. Four-wheel drive is newly standard across the lineup for 2024. The Navigator’s selectable driving modes tune traction and stability control for conditions like winter weather, sand and rocks, or better fuel efficiency.
Though capable away from pavement, the Navigator is still best on the road and shines on the highway thanks to its independent suspension with adaptive dampers that glide over deep potholes and rough pavement. At about three tons, the Navigator’s heft helps absorb tough surfaces despite the fact that its 22-inch wheels no doubt contribute to some impacts.
Steering feedback is strong and well weighted, though it can’t do much to minimize the Navigator’s massive turning radius.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Comfort & Quality
Extravagance is an understatement with the 2024 Navigator.
The 2024 Lincoln Navigator opens up to a cavernous interior with seating for up to eight passengers and tons of cargo space, good for a perfect 10.
Even the entry-level Premiere model gets power automatic running boards, leather upholstery, and front heated and cooled seats with plenty of power adjustments. Black Label models boast 30-way power seats that can mold to the passenger’s thighs.
Most Navigators feature second-row captain’s chairs, which can be upgraded to heated, cooled, and massaging versions, though a bench is optional for eight-passenger capacity. In either case, the second row slides for easy rear-row access. Headroom and legroom are beyond generous in all rows, which helps explain the Navigator’s popularity amongst celebrities and athletes.
There’s 20.9 cubic feet for cargo behind the rear row, or up to 103.3 cubes when all seats are folded. The extended wheelbase Navigator L expands the cargo room behind the third row to 36.0 cubic feet, but passenger volume and seating space remains the same.
Color palettes and materials are largely grouped into curated interior themes that range from borderline tacky to downright sophisticated, such as the white and blue leather Yacht Club and the wood-trimmed Central Park, but plenty of options and upgrades abound.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Safety
For 2024, BlueCruise is available across the Navigator lineup.
How safe is the Lincoln Navigator?
It’s an 8 despite incomplete crash-test results. The NHTSA awarded five stars in its side-crash tests and four stars in rollover tests, but it has not awarded the Navigator an overall score. The IIHS hasn’t crashed a Navigator for testing. This is common for large luxury vehicles.
However, we’re impressed with the 2024 Navigator’s standard safety features. It includes adaptive cruise control, active lane control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitors. We think automatic parking assist, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system are worthwhile upgrades considering the Navigator’s compromised outward rear vision.
This year, the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system (formerly known as Active Glide) is available across the lineup. The system combines advanced adaptive cruise control with navigation data from 130,000 miles of mapped highways to maintain following distance and lane positioning without driver intervention, as long as the driver’s eyes are on the road.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Features
The Navigator Black Label’s luxury vibes are right on point.
With tons of standard features and a nearly endless menu of customization options that build on curated cabin themes, the Navigator earns a TCC Rating of 8. With more competitive value positioning and free scheduled maintenance added to its 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, it would score higher.
The base 2024 Navigator Premiere starts at $84,660 and includes leather upholstery, captain’s chairs for the second row, a power tailgate, keyless start, and 20-inch wheels.
The Navigator gets a 13.2-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a 14-speaker audio system. Options include a 20-speaker audio system and a dual-screen entertainment system for the rear row with Amazon Fire TV capability.
The $97,220 Reserve adds a panoramic sunroof, 22-inch wheels, and a surround-view camera system, and can be equipped with 30-way power front seats and a 28-speaker stereo.
Which Lincoln Navigator should I buy?
If you’re spending six figures for a Navigator, or close to it, just get the Black Label.
How much is a fully loaded Lincoln Navigator?
Luxury is the whole point of this Lincoln, and even with our own money, we’d splurge on the Black Label. Even better, just go for the long-wheelbase L at $115,690. You’ll get a choice of interior themes as well as 22-inch two-tone machined and painted alloy wheels, and an illuminated grille. For $6,695, you can add a Special Edition package that adds a unique chrome grille, swaps out the wheels for a black-finished design, and blacks out the roof and exterior trim, but that, oddly, isn’t available with the black exterior paint.
At this pricing tier, Navigators add free scheduled maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles, or four visits total. Black Label purchases add valet service and car washes to your maintenance appointments.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Fuel Economy
With newly standard four-wheel drive, the 2024 Navigator goes from thirsty to thirstier.
Is the Lincoln Navigator good on gas?
It’s the exact opposite, worthy of a TCC Rating of just 1. The EPA pegs it at 16 mpg city, 22 highway, 18 combined. That’s even worse than last year’s estimates for the now-discontinued rear-drive model. Someone get a hybrid in here, now.
