Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Lincoln Navigator

The definition of “living large” is found quite easily. You just have to look at a few places to know what it means. 

One of those places is at your Lincoln dealer. Their definition was to take the spirit of decades of Continentals and Town Cars and forge them into an SUV.

That has been the story of the Lincoln Navigator. 

For the past 29 years, the luxurious full-sized SUV has become a symbol for those who want a stately, elegant, and substantial mode of transport for themselves. Families, included. 

The Navigator is the definition of ”Lincoln-ness” – a term we coined repeatedly in our review of the compact Corsair last year. That term signifies the intersection of the brand’s past with the present. It is a shared DNA that aligns the brand with expectations of both loyal and potential customers.

The Navigator sits at the top of the brand’s lineup. It does so with authority. 

This is the first time we had an extended period of time in one – a 2026 Reserve model. We briefly checked out a 2025 Reserve with the Jet Appearance Package on a preview drive. Therefore, we had some familiarity with this flagship SUV. 

Even though we experienced it once, we wanted to see more of what this big luxurious SIV has to offer its well-heeled clientele. 

Design-wise, the 2026 Navigator welcomes you with a large grille that follows the brand’s design language. That includes illuminated light bar and star logo. That is flanked by a set of LED headlamp units. In all, the idea of bold has been achieved. 

At the rear, a full-length LED taillight unit juts out slightly to follow current brand design tenets. To load and unload cargo, the 2026 Navigator has a Split Gate with the lower part making loading easier, while holding its weight. 

A standard Reserve shows off some brighter elements giving it a subtle elegant look. The available 24-inch wheels are a contemporary addition, perhaps on the sportier side. This was balanced by the Starlight Gray paint job on this 2026 Navigator. 

Inside the Navigator, you are immediately greeted by the 48-inch Panoramic Display. This screen takes up almost the entire width of the bulkhead, while offering an array of digital displays. The left half of this wide screen is for instrumentation and critical vehicle information. It also houses two smaller screens that are enabled when you turn on the turn signal. The right screen is more for entertainment purposes for the front passenger. 

While it is informative, the Panoramic Display does take some getting used to when you are driving. Part of it is the flat top and bottom steering wheel, which can skew your sightline to the left display. It is one thing to adjust the steering wheel. It is another figuring out how to do so. It takes a series of soft touch commands on the steering wheel itself to finally adjust it to your driving position. 

That brings up the Lincoln Digital Experience display just above the center console. It serves as a hub for not only key controls; it is also the infotainment touchscreen. Again, this takes a learning curve to understand what I need to adjust myself and to find the right controls for certain functions. I found it to be a bit low for my driving position. The Lincoln Digital Experience is also powered by Google Built-in, however smartphone mirroring is also available. 

On the plus side, the seats are sumptuous, comfortable and very roomy. Seating is available for up to seven with power folding seats in the second and third rows. The second row Captain Chairs are power adjustable in many ways. If you must ask, there is up to 107.0 cubic feet of cargo space with both the third- and second-row seats lowered. Without folding any seats down, there is still 21.6 cubic feet behind the third row. If you want more cargo capacity you can step up to the long wheelbase Navigator L model

Powering our test vehicle is the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged High Output EcoBoost V6. There is 432 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque carrying this 5,929-pound SUV around town and beyond. A 10-speed automatic transmission is actuated from the steering column, with power going to all four wheels. You can also tow up to 8.700 pounds, as well. 

The driveline was powerful, yet it was somewhat quick. It shouldn’t have to be, since most drivers will feather the throttle until, they achieve a cruising speed. When you do, Blue Cruise can be enabled to ease your hands off of the steering wheel and keep your eyes on the road. It also does a good job maintaining lane presence and gentler curves on compatible sections of highway. 

As for fuel economy, we observed an average of 17.1 MPG. 

One thing you can count on in a Navigator is a smooth ride. Equipped with Adaptive Suspension, the ride was simply fine and yielded no drama. Handling was on the soft side, and the combination of the 24-inch wheels and 40-profile tires created a harsher feeling then what we expect in a Lincoln. 

We found that maneuverability was a bit of a challenge. The rectangular steering wheel was part of the reason. Yet, it took more than enough turns to accomplish some tight situations. Let alone a left turn. However, on-center feel was not bad overall. Braking-wise, the pedal feel was, as was the response to the wheels. We experienced decent stop s in normal, panic and winter conditions. 

There are three trim levels available on the 2026 Navigator. You can choose between a standard wheelbase or the longer wheelbase L model. Pricing starts from $91,995. Our standard wheelbase Reserve test vehicle came with a sticker price of $112,480.

We respect the flagship SUV. It has become the vehicle of choice for those who used to own similar sedans and coupes of decades past. It is the progression that has been in play since the introduction of the Navigator back in the late 1990s.

Today’s Navigator exudes an air of superiority that is expected in a Lincoln. A luxury icon that has no qualms talking about itself and the people that ride in it every day. That is why this large luxury SUV exists. 

It’s not perfect. It takes a learning curve to handle the new technology inside. For some Lincoln loyalists, this may be a bit overwhelming to deal with. For others, they’ll embrace it. It is the latter that the brand is banking to keep the 2026 Navigator at the top of everyone’s shopping list. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by the Ford Motor Company – our opinions are of our own

All photos by George Torline