(WWJ) What makes the Lincoln Navigator unique didn’t strike me while driving it through tight, narrow canyons in Southern California.
It was while sitting in the vehicle, with massaging seats doing their magic, and aromas permeating the air in something called “rejuvenate mode.”
While so many luxury brands — BMW, Cadillac in particular — try to wow you with 0-60 times and driving thrills, Lincoln has really found its niche as a brand that appeals to people who want to use their drive time to calm down.
And at the top of the Lincoln food chain is the totally redone 2025 Lincoln Navigator.
”It can become a home away from home and a third space that rejuvenates clients in an entirely new way,” Lincoln President Dianne Craig said, in a statement.
Lincoln taking us to Rancho Santa Fe, California — an upscale community teeming with luxury imports — to drive and learn about the new Navigator.
The first thing you notice when you enter the Navigator is the 48 inch panoramic display. It’s eye-popping, but also in an area that doesn’t distract from your field of view.
“We really tried to make sure that customers could see all the information that’s pertinent and they need in a very digestible manner, but that’s not overwhelming,” said Nathan Mainka, Lincoln’s Family Vehicles Marketing Manager.
Underneath, is an 11.1 inch touch screen that includes all of your controls.
While the panoramic screen is extraordinarily elegant, the lower screen is extraordinarily ordinary. It’s an interesting contrast.
The Lincoln Digital Experience is a nice upgrade from Lincoln’s previous digital offerings, and the screen can play “how to” videos, to help you better learn about your new vehicle, but only while in park.
One change I really didn’t like was putting the outside mirror controls on the steering wheel. It’s not anywhere close to where you expect it to be, isn’t easy to use, and could even be distracting while driving.
The drive experience is solid. The twin-turbocharged V6 puts out 440 horsepower, which gives you great acceleration. For a vehicle this large, the Navigator did great on windy, mountain roads. You can tow 8,700 pounds, and do it with ease with a lot of technology that helps you both hitch the trailer and back up.
Lincoln’s hands free BlueCruise feature has been improved. It disengages far less than it used to, and can do your lane changes at the touch of your turn signal. But it doesn’t yet do automatic lane changes like GM’s Super Cruise.
Still, BlueCruise does a very good job of de-stressing some of drivers main stress points.
”They love it on long road trips, as well as in stop and go traffic situations,” says BlueCruise Product Director Eric Romzek.”
BlueCruise also now does a much better job of centering you in your lane.
Things have been improved for back seat passengers. You can get heated seats in all three rows. A power second row makes it easier to get in and out of the third row.
”These clients, they host people,” said Mainka. “If you go out to dinner with people, you don’t want them to have a second class experience in the second row.”
In the rear, there’s a new splitgate, that makes the back of the vehicle more configurable. The top three quarters lifts up. Then you can bring the bottom quarter down, or leave it up to better arrange items in the back. There’s even a shelf that gives you some extra cargo options.
Now that you’re parked, let’s enter what Lincoln calls the “Spa on Wheels.”
That’s a bit of an overstatement, but the Lincoln Rejuvenate system is unique among vehicles. There are three different modes. They adjust your seat, turn on massage functions, plas relaxing music, put on a relaxing display and release a “subtle fragrance.”
Personally, I’d prefer to get out of my vehicle and into my home to relax. But it might be something nice to do while waiting in a car for a friend, or to pick up a child from school.
If you don’t quite want to rejuvenate, you can also view streaming video while in park. And while you’re doing that, they include several “how to” videos on the Navigator, including what to expect with hands free BlueCruise.
All of this relaxation doesn’t come cheap. Technically speaking you can get a Navigator for under 100 thousand dollars—$99,995 to be exact…but the destination and delivery charge takes you over the top. The top of the line Black Label trim maxes out at $119,490.
The updates give freshness to a vehicle that knows its audience, and will serve to keep them relaxed.
Disclosure: Travel and accommodations provided by Ford Motor Company.