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AUTO REVIEW

The 2019 Lincoln Navigator is an excellent full- One quirk of the Navigator (and other lincolns) is the push-
size luxury SUv that will appeal to upscale buyers who need button gear selector. Electronics have enabled automobile manu-
extra space and/or need to tow a trailer. Since the Navigator is facturers to do just about anything they want with those important
based on the Ford F-150 pickup, which is (in my opinion) the controls — witness Jaguar–land Rover’s knobs in the central con-
best vehicle in its class, it’s logical to conclude that the Navigator sole that rise up as you start the car or Mercedes’ steering column
would also be best in class. And for now, I’d say that’s mostly mounted stalks — and lincoln’s solution is as good as any. It takes
right. but it wasn’t long ago — like a year ago before the current time to get used to pushing a button just above the HvAC con-
Navigator launched — that lincoln’s biggest SUv was perenni- trols whenever you put the Navigator into Park or Reverse, but it
ally outgunned and outsold by the Cadillac Escalade. opens up space in the console and is a reminder that in 2018 leav-
What changed? A lot actually, but I think the most important ing a gear lever there is a waste of space.
thing is that lincoln’s parent company, Ford, decided to get seri- lincoln has also taken pains to make the exterior design of the
ous about making the Navigator competitive. Navigator more distinctive. They succeeded to a point, with a
For starters, the interior is much more luxurious than it used sleek linear profile accented by clever, even Audi-esque, front and
to be. Thank you, lincoln, because the biggest problem with rear lights that turn on theatrically as you approach. And I like the
previous Navigators was that sitting in one was a lesson in how new grille which manages to be both assertive and understated.
to turn a Ford F-150 interior into a lincoln interior without re- but the profile and rear views are too conservative for me. While
ally trying. The new one is not only legitimately luxurious but attractive, the Navigator doesn’t have the presence of the Es-
superior to the Escalade’s and arguably better than the ones in calade, which seems like an automotive bradley Cooper while the
the Infiniti QX80 and lexus lX570. Navigator is more like Steve Carell.
three interior “packages” to choose from, amusingly called, eco-boost v6 from the F-150 Raptor. All that horsepower is great,
Powering the 6,031-pound Navigator l I tested was the 450 HP
If you choose the highest trim black label option there are
“Yacht Club,” “Chalet,” and “destination.” Mine featured the
of torque, which enables easy towing. While the Navigator no
dark earth-tone destination theme, and it was very nice. Soft but what buyers will really care about is the 500 pound-per-foot
touch surfaces abound, as do high-quality leather and plenty of longer offers a v8, once you’ve experienced this wonderful eco-
tasteful chrome and shiny black accents. boost engine you won’t care. It’s that good. don’t expect great
For the record, about 20 years ago Audi tried this with the A6 fuel economy though, the Navigator manages just 16MPG in the
sedan, except they called their packages “Atmospheres.” It didn’t city and 23MPG on the highway.
catch on. When you’re talking about a 6,000-pound full-size SUv, it’s rea-
Manufacturers like to brag about how adjustable their front sonable to expect a meh driving experience, and that’s the case
seats are, but in the case of the Navigator there’s more adjusta- here. It is cushy, however, and being able to look down on most
bility there than I’ve ever seen. believe it or not, the front head- other vehicles is an undeniable plus. Parking is an undeniable
rests can move electronically up and down and backwards and downer though, especially parallel parking.
forwards. The seatbacks are split into two halves for even more The 2019 lincoln Navigator is an excellent full-size luxury SUv,
customization, and, gulp, so are the front sections of the seats and finally it’s got something for the Cadillac Escalade. The Es-
under your thighs. Take that Cadillac. calade used to be the default domestic choice in this class. It’s not
A wonderfully modern electronic dash with all sorts of con- anymore.
figurability is another highlight. Using the gauge area in front of
the driver to deliver most of the information he or she needs is As always, contact Phil Hornbeak at 210-301-4367 to get infor-
a contemporary trend that I applaud, and I credit Audi’s virtual mation about options and your best bCMS deal on a Navigator.
Cockpit for encouraging other brands to do more of this. lin-
coln’s setup isn’t quite up to Audi’s level yet, but then again nei- Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist
ther is anybody else’s. who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was sta-
Oh, you can also change the ambient light in the cabin to one tioned here in the U.S. Air Force. He has been writing auto
of seven options, including amber and lilac. Hmm. reviews for San Antonio Medicine since 1995.

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