THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR which was originally introduced in 1998, is credited with introducing the concept of the American Luxury SUV.
It was, and always has been the largest full sized SUV on the market, a title shared with its Paternal twin, the Ford Expedition. Both of these trucks also ushered in a new era referred to by some as the “SUV Arms Race” where bigger and better SUV’s would be produced- giving the driver a vehicle that guzzled fuel; looked like an armored vehicle; was the equivalent of a fast truck being driven like a car, and presented driver’s of smaller cars with never before seen lumbering obstacles and spectacular accidents with almost unthinkable results.

The original Navigator was trimmed with leather, wood and better-than-average carpeting for a Sport Utility Vehicle of the time. The truck was also the first Luxury SUV to feature a navigation computer, [hence the name Navigator] although the technology was buggy and unreliable. Unfortunately, due to the fact that it was based on the same platform as the Ford pickup trucks, it suffered from poor handling (in comparison to a car) and even worse, had the tendency to rollover- like a well trained dog - when highly complex maneuvers were required at high speeds. A new problem that also arose was crash compatibility with smaller cars. Due to the fact Navigator’s bumper was nearly 2 feet off the ground and could easily override the bumpers of other cars, killing other drivers – or even worse, trip over highway guardrails sending drivers careening into ravines. It also happened to be introduced during a time when Premium unleaded gasoline only cost $1.55 which allowed it to mask the fact that its fuel economy was terrible, averaging less than 13 miles to the gallon. These problems did not stop it from being a success however. By 2001, The Navigator had succeeded in capturing 40% of the American made Luxury SUV market since it was pretty much unchallenged with the exception of the midsized Land Rover Range Rover and the pitiful looking Cadillac Escalade which was introduced in 1999 – a 10 minute refit of the GMC Yukon Denali.

Navigator was undisputed KING OF THE ROAD.

In 2003, Lincoln answered problems posed to it by critics and consumers who were disappointed in its truck-like ride and its tendency to rollover. The 2003 Lincoln Navigator introduced an even more upgraded interior with finer wood grain, harder plastics, finer carpeting, aluminum trim and panels; and a redesigned bumper/fascia which made the entire truck look solid like a rock. The 2003 model also was made lower to the ground to aid in crash compatibility so that hitting a smaller car wouldn’t seriously injure the driver. Navigator also introduced innovative technology such as the power liftgate and power deployment running boards which quickly became the talk of car enthusiasts on the street who had never witnessed anything like them before. The list of new features in this second generation went on and on to include a fully functional DVD Navigation system, powerful THX speakers and other driver helpful features such as HID lights.

Navigator also featured the first-in-class independent rear suspension, roll mitigation technology and even power folding third row seats. At this point in time, Navigator’s only competition was the redesigned 2002 Escalade which had a stealth design concept yet suffered in comparison to the Navigator by featuring cheap parts from the Chevy Tahoe and Yukon Denali’s bins and a hate it or love it exterior stealth design. With the redesign, Escalade sales finally caught on, but, it was still obvious that Navigator was the winner of the 2nd generation American Luxury SUV market. Even better for Ford Lincoln Mercury was the fact that the Expedition, which was redesigned for 2003, featured many of the same upgrades the Navigator had – allowing it to surpass the Escalade in terms of affordability and luxury / price ratio.

The 2003 FORD EXPEDITION and LINCOLN NAVIGATOR were easily the best full sized American made SUV’s once again.

When the Escalade was updated in 2003, it included a 345 HP engine and considerably better technology which allowed it to edge past the Navigator and Expedition in terms of power – though its interior was still noticeably lacking.
It was also about $10,000 cheaper when purchased loaded than the $70,000 loaded Lincoln Navigator Ultimate which helped its sales considerably. GM then followed up on the Escalade by redesigning it from the ground up for 2007, giving it a 403 HP engine, considerably finer interior materials and a highly attractive exterior for a $75,000 price tag (loaded). The 2007 Escalade hit the streets around Spring 2006.
Though Lincoln got off to a slow release, the 2007 NAVIGATOR is here now, coming months after Cadillac’s extortiously priced Escalade, GMC’s $55,000 Denali and Chevy’s $45,000 Tahoe hit the streets.

I walked into a Lincoln dealership Sunday, anxious to get my hands on the new Navigator and totally lucked out when the salesman allowed me to go on a solo test drive for around 30 minutes, allowing me to freely explore the Navigator for what it was without having to treat it with kid’s gloves for an overzealous salesman.


SO WHAT WERE MY IMPRESSIONS?



EXTERIOR

Walk up to the Navigator and the obvious addition you notice immediately is the huge “cheese grater” grill. This new grill is part of Lincoln’s new design strategy to show impressive size with clever accenting and as much metallic framing as possible. This is supplemented by the POWERDOME which is a shrowd-like structure in the hood’s molding, that again, is plated with chrome, to make the front of the truck look huge and rich. It works - managing to give the truck its own character that is instantly recognizable. After all, this is a “Navigator” and it sets its own trend as the top of the line full size Luxury SUV. While many people will argue that the 2003 Navigator was easily better looking than the 2nd generation Escalade, that same argument has been made much harder to win now that Cadillac has tightened its seems and rounded its edges.
While both trucks have so many things in common, they are both clearly separated by their highly recognized, stylized features.

The 2007 Navigator has chrome accents that help bring out the new paint job. But, I’d have to say the most marvelous addition to the navigator is the new light fixtures which have many design elements in them to give them a recognizable, yet technologically opulent ultra modern look.

The Navigator for 2007 is about the same in dimensions, height and space as the 2nd Generation Navigator. What is interesting however, is the truck seems to have similar space in between the undercarriage and the ground as the first generation of Navigators. However, walk up to the door and open it and all the sudden, the newly redesigned power retracting running boards unfold almost out of nowhere ready to give you the step support you need to easily climb into the new truck. I was *shocked* to see these new running boards, as I was when I first saw the power sliding running boards on the 2003 model which introduced them. Basically, I believe Lincoln made these new form fitting running boards because if you were to drive an older model Navigator too closely to the curb you’d end up damaging the running boards and facing a very expensive repair bill. I have seen Navigator owners on the street with damaged running boards – as well as power retracting running boards that were damaged and hung out slightly – so I am 100% happy Navigator’s design team produced this sleek new form.
Overall, the exterior design is very macho, very attractive and has its own sex appeal. More than enough for Navigator lovers to drool over.



INTERIOR

At first glance, you will be wowed by the Navigator’s interior. The one I tested had a white leather interior with a bright ”Camel” wood -very similar to beech walnut – that is glazed over in a way that makes it look luxurious without just looking like a cheap insert. This is complemented by the new wood on metal gear shifter which resides in the centerline of the truck and looks spectacular.

The seating/space in the new Navigator is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Navigators over the years. Interior space hasn’t changed very much from the 2003 model while the quality of the Leather seems to have improved a bit.
If you’re a driver smaller than 6 feet 5 inches (375 pounds) you’ll have no trouble sitting in the driver’s seat with minimal tilt. So long as your second row passengers are smaller than 6 feet'5 inches tall (250 pounds), they’ll find plenty of leg room in the 2nd row. The 2nd row can be ordered with a center console or a split bench. The model I tested had a nice center console for drinks and had a compartment for things like DVD’s. The seats also could be titled about 15 degrees backwards to give the 2nd row passengers a little recline – but, not very much - after all this isn’t a Maybach. 3rd row space is exactly as it was in the 2003. Enough for passengers smaller than 6 feet tall (200 pounds) – basically kids and medium-sized adults.
Navigator and Expedition are the only SUV's on the entire market with generous 2nd and 3rd rows. Infiniti qx56, Tahoe, Denali and Escalade simply pale in comparison.


As for cargo space behind the 3rd row, its still at a minimum so a luggage carrier for the roof rack is a definite must have if you like to drive on vacations with a full load of family members. For grocery shopping it is more than adequate but, if you go to Costco or B.J’s, you’re gonna’ need to fold down this powerfolding seat to reveal the true cargo space. With the 3rd row folded flat, you’ll have plenty of space for groceries, supplies, etc.
Keep in mind that Navigator's 2nd and 3rd rows actually fold flat wherin Cadillac's Escalade SUV's 3rd row does not. The Escalade's 3rd row must be removed if you are interested in placing long flat items in the back such as plywood.

Lincoln has stripped this new Navigator of the slide out aluminum plated panel which covered up the radio, and has made the entire center stack flat like was done in the new Escalade. Unlike the 2007 Escalade however, with its 8” color Navigation touchscreen, Lincoln only affords you a 6.5 inch model that doesn’t look as nice as Escalade’s though is a bit easier to use. In my opinion, this was stupid and Lincoln should have left the aluminum panel while making the LCD screen larger. I liked the aluminum panel because it covered up the radio -even though it was unnecessary – just in case for some reason you wanted to hide it or protect it.
The dashboard in the truck has taken a retro look as though it was a 1950’s Lincoln Continental. There is almost no “tech” in this new dash –rather, it is simple needles with backlit numbers and a cheesy LED display. The fuel gauges and most of the other gauges such as oil and battery are located at the top of this layout and to me, they are rather difficult to immediately recognize as I am more used to high technology such as the Driver’s information Center in my Escalade EXT which is made of an LED display with blue crystal dials.

While some people may appreciate the retro looks and the new design, I was taken aback when I realized how cheap some of the components were. The buttons appeared to be spray painted silver tone on some type of cheap plastic. In fact, I noticed on part of the panel that the paint was already chipping on this brand new $60,000 SUV! Cadillac, however, did the centerstack much smarter this time around by making their entire console hard plastic and by reducing the space between buttons to give them a more quality look and then using chrome accents for button spacers. Lincoln needs to get all aluminum knobs, buttons and dials for this Navigator stat!

Both the Navigator and Escalade for 2007 have hardened plastic walls surrounding everything inside the car but Cadillac has given its Escalade the tech edge with a nicer navigation screen and dashboard. Interestingly enough, the Navigator’s new dual zone climate system almost looks exactly like Cadillac’s with circular push panels and less knobs. As Lincoln has changed the dual zone climate system from that introduced in the 2003 model, its hard to actually decide who started this design trend first. Most likely, Lincoln borrowed this button strategy from Mercedes Benz.



THE RIDE QUALITY of the new Lincoln Navigator is fantastic, but, not a very big change from the already enjoyable 2nd generation model. The truck features a dead quiet interior with minimal wind noise and Lincoln’s independent rear suspension is more than adequate at ironing out bumps in the pavement and giving you a riding on air feel. I found the ride to be quite soft, maybe even softer than the Escalade’s.

Rollover feelings have also been pretty much conquered here to. Normally, I test rollover by making very sharp turns while accelerating. In the first generation Navigator you’d be pressed against the driver’s door or tossed about. In the 2003 model, the new suspension and roll mitigation dampers, coupled with a lower center of gravity made the truck far easier to whip about. The 2007 Navigator hasn’t really changed much from the 2nd generation in regards to rollover feelings. Both trucks feel firmly planted even at 60 MPH.
Though its never a good idea to speed in an SUV, for drive’s in and around 55, you’ll be more than content just relaxing and making your way to your appointed rounds in comfort.

I found the Navigator’s steering wheel to be more than adequate in comforting my hands while offering them new and exciting ways to steer – since the new Navigator’s wheel features very nice leather and two wood inserts to grip which are properly placed and I should also mention that the wheel’s buttons allow you to control everything from the Navigation radio to cruise control, to the temperature since it has air pressure controls. I was very dissapointed in all the new GM trucks due to the fact that they all featured a steering wheel with manual tilt and had no telescoping ability whatsoever. Navigator fortunately comes with a push button power tilt though it still lacks push button power telescope. It cannot telescope at all. The Navigator's wheel is larger than the wheels on the GM trucks, so, I was able to use it slightly more comfortably.

The THX speaker system, I feel is underpowered. Though the sound is clear, at its highest levels it fails to pump as hard as the Bose system in the Escalade or even the Bose system in the Nissan Armada. Even cars like the Chrysler 300C gave me powerful bass and excellent volumes so I could blast my music and draw further attention to my lavish ride, but the Navigator didn’t have this. While the audio system is great for typical drivers, its not enough for me. My test Navigator had a large 8 inch DVD monitor for the backseat which was pretty nice but, it bothered me that this type of tech attention wasn’t added to the center console.

The only disappointment in ride control I have is that the Powerdome hood and this new driver’s position take getting used to. I found driving in the lane’s center a little challenging and I kept hugging the right line. The Navigator has some huge blindspots, though it has adequately sized mirrors, and sometimes the truck-like steering makes the Navigator feel really, really big. I didn't get the same feeling of massive-ness from the 1st generation Navigator or the Expedition dispite the fact they all share similar dimensions.
I would assume driving the Navigator L or the Expedition EL must be akin to driving a school bus.

What truly bothered me about the Navigator’s ride was the Acceleration. The engine is pretty much the same as was used in the 2nd generation Navigator – 300 HP 5.4Liter V8. When you really put the pedal to the metal, the Navigator struggles to get into gear and it isn’t until about the 3rd or 4th gear that the truck wants to really race. Meanwhile, the Escalade’s 403 HP engine, under the same lead foot, acts like an untamed beast that could be a weapon in the wrong hands - easily reaching 60 MPH in less than 8 seconds.
The Navigator's slower, confident thrust is enough to let you pass semi's and slower vehicles on the highway - probably sufficient enough for typical city and freeway driving but, it is obvious that engine power is not Navigator's strong point.

I also noticed that the Navigator’s 6-speed automatic transmission went through some pretty harsh gear shifts when I left her in 4X4 mode. There are three buttons located at the bottom of the centerstack to change gear modes so, thinking I had it in the wrong mode, I pressed 4X4 AUTO. This allowed her to do the work herself but every now and then, especially when shifting from Park to Drive, I heard a *CLANK* in the gears which was harsh enough to make it sound like I’d been hit in the back. It's possible this isn't normal so I won't downgrade for it. I'll drive another Navigator when I get the chance and then I'll either update this comment or erase it as a vehicle malfunction.

Navigator won’t get any real power until Ford releases its FORD BOSS ENGINE which is meant as direct competition with Daimler Chrysler’s Hemi and GM’s, new Vortec 6.2L Engines.
The BOSS is supposed to be introduced in a 6.2 Liter displacement with a 7 Liter following sometime later.
If things work out, Navigator will gain the racing edge against the Escalade though it weighs about 300 pounds more.



PRICING


The 2007 Lincoln Navigator is currently offered as the Standard model as well as the upcoming Navigator L - L standing for "Longer Wheelbase".
"L" will be a 12-inch stretch, with a body that's 14.7 inches longer than the standard Navigator. This means an extra 25 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats - room for people or cargo. Expect the “L” to be about $5000 or $7000 more than the Standard.

The price you’ll pay to step into the Standard 2007 Lincoln Navigator ULTIMATE is very interesting. The 2007 ULTIMATE's base model costs about $50,000 which is $9,000 less than the new Escalade SUV's base model.

The factory sticker on the model I tested claimed a price of 50,655. This included standard 18” Aluminum rims; HID Headlights; Moonroof; Power Liftgate; climate controlled seats; 10-Way power chairs; power heated memory mirrors with turn signals, running boards and a chrome exhaust tip – as well as a number of other standard features. However the dealer had installed the Elite Package which featured White Chocolate tri-coat paint, Power deploying running boards; Sirius XM radio (no charge); the Navigation map radio computer and the 20” Lincoln brand rims for $1500.
With all its options, the 2007 Navigator costs $58,095 plus approximately $5200 for Taxes and dealer fees. Tax for me is 8.7%
Navigator Ultimate costs a little less than $64,000 FULLY LOADED !

This is a spectacular price. Even the 2004 Navigator ULTIMATE loaded costed $70,700. If you for whatever reason perfer Lincoln's opulent looks but are willing to get the 2-wheel drive model, the price you can expect will be below $45,000 !. Of course, considering how Navigator suffers from power, I'd suggest nothing less than a base model 4X4 which costs an equally reasonable $47,000 give or take a few thousand.




VS. THE ESCALADE


Firstly, the Lincoln Navigator fully loaded costs about $10,000 less than the Cadillac Escalade SUV fully loaded. The difference in price will be about the same when Navigator releases the longer, Navigator L, and you compare it to the Cadillac ESV. Now that almost every SUV includes GPS Navigation, leather seats and similar safety features, you are basically paying for name recognition, exterior design and interior comfort. Ford Lincoln and Mercury have never forced you to pay top dollar for luxury elements such as heated/cooled seats and paint jobs while GM and especially Cadillac have. Navigator's price is reasonable and affordable for the typical large SUV buyer at a sub-luxury price. Compare the size and luxury here to the smaller; Hummer H2, Mercedes R-class, BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne which cost considerably more yet don't offer you true utlity or family comfort for road trips.
Navigator is a perfectly priced luxury vehicle for a large family to enjoy. I expect the Ford Expedition for 2007 to be even better in terms of price/luxury ratio - I'm going to test one when it is available.

If you compare the space in both SUV’s when you tilt the driver seat halfway back, 45 degree angle, you will see that the Navigator slightly edges past the Escalade when it comes to knee/leg space for the 2nd row passengers. Navigator also has a slight advantage for its 3rd row.

As for driver comfort, I found both the 2007 Escalade and the Navigator to be nearly equal – with a most annoying low cut window line. When you lower the seat to its lowest position, its easy to see that too much of your body is still too high past the window line. In the event of a violent rollover, if you had the windows all the way down, I believe your body might either be ejected out the window or half of you might fall out and the truck could pin you. And what bothers me is that this same situation exists in both the Navigator and the Escalade which are widely purchased trucks that naturally will have a number of rollovers and accidents due to the law of averages. I wish that GM and Ford had left the window space and door frame height the same way they did for the 2nd generation trucks because I see a serious problem here that hasn’t been addressed.
True the Navigator and Escalade feature side curtain airbags, but, in a rollover, no safety feature is 100% certain and their reliability drops even more so considering you might be hanging out the window when it happens.

As for exterior looks I can’t comment too much. If you’ve seen the Navigator or the Escalade, you already know which one you personally prefer – its basically a challenge between Escalade’s stealth look or Navigator’s classic “Navigator look littered with chrome”. What I can say is that Navigator looks considerably richer in person than it does in pictures. This truck has an opulent exterior that will let you ride in absolute top luxury.

The interior of the Escalade has Navigator slightly beat. While I do like Navigator’s clean leather with bright wood panels, Cadillac was smart in that they hired Drexel Meyer (designers of Mercedes Benz and Maybach) who focused on creating gapless panels and high quality buttons with chrome accents. Navigator is also at a loss when you compare their center console design to that of the new Lac’. With the 8” DVD Navigation Screen, Navigator’s smaller 6.5 inch model looks weak. Also Cadillac’s monitor is bursting with color while Navigator’s is monotonous like a 1980’s Game Boy.
To its credit however, the Navigator’s clock is easy to read and its overall technology is less busy which might be easier on older drivers who aren’t as anxious to deal with Navigation computers and a sea of buttons.

Also note that I absolutely LOVE Navigator’s new steering wheel while I feel Cadillac’s is a little too small and lacking in simplicity of use. Escalade’s wheel is just a bit too pedantic when your driving at high speeds and cant be pressed to think.

As for Engine power and fuel economy, Cadillac is the clear winner. The Escalade’s 403 HP Vortec simply kills the Navigator’s 300 HP Intec. In a side by side race, the Escalade will tear from the light before the Navigator even notices - think Tourtoise vs. Hare, people.
Coming off the light in the Navigator, I slammed my foot on the pedal and the Navigator replied with a horrendously slow acceleration which gradually got higher once it noticeably shifted gears a couple times. Meanwhile, Escalade in the same test seemed to jump out of my hands like a starving Lion pouncing on a wilderbeast.
As for fuel economy Lincoln wasted the opportunity here to make this gas guzzler friendlier to the driver. The Navigator only achieves 13 MPG City, 19 Highway according to the posted EPA rating, though I’m certain its more like 11/ 16 since the typical driver doesn’t drive without speeding or drive in speeds which cause the variable valve system to stay in low output for long durations. Current Navigator owners (and most SUV owners) might be already used to these underachieving numbers - while others might be impressed - but I believe Lincoln should have taken the time to come up with a strategy for better fuel economy. Lincoln claims that the 2007 Navigator's engine allows you to use regular unleaded instead of premium while allowing the truck to operate at optimal efficiency. This is a good start, though most people will by habit opt for top grade fuel. It is quite dissapointing that Navigator isn't rated for Ethanol E85 which would have given it an edge over Escalade.

Gas prices have dropped almost a dollar within the past 30 days, and they will continue to do so right up until a day after the November elections.
Sure, regular Unleaded is $2.50 now but rest assured, when gas prices skyrocket again, all but the richest of us will be damning the designers of these trucks. It has been becoming increasingly clear that whether you purchase a GM or Ford vehicle, the days of the underperforming, large, hard to park SUV are over. Ford's recent buyout and GM's billion dollar loss last year are clear proof of this.

OVERALL After having driven the Denali, Tahoe, and purchasing the Escalade, I recognize that Lincoln is going to have some serious trouble convincing younger, tech savvy people to buy a Navigator instead of one of GM’s new rides. Strangely enough, this time around, the Yukon Denali is actually more similar a comparison to the Navigator while the Escalade has surpassed Navigator in a number of ways. Lincoln loyalists will reject this notion, but rest assured, I am being thoughtful and unbiased here. The Navigator’s price is almost the same as the Yukon Denali XL in fact at around $50,000 base.
I’d have to say that Navigator’s saving grace is that it is cheaper than the Escalade while remaining at the top of Ford’s Luxury echelon with the new Range Rover. Unfortunately, other newcomers to the market such as Mercedes Benz’s R-class, Porsche’s Cayenne, Hummer H2 and the Infiniti QX56 may steal some of Navigator’s steam - though there are some people who refuse to buy anything but a Lincoln Navigator.
Of all Luxury vehicles, Navigator is still the largest unless you pay extra for extended length models such as Yukon Denali XL or Escalade ESV.

The 2007 Lincoln Navigator is, despite its few flaws, still top of the line American luxury. Just like the previous generations, Lincoln’s 2007 Navigator continues to offer the driver considerable quality and reliability while presenting a great driving and ownership experience. Keep in mind though that the 2007 Navigator is a restyle rather than a redesign its basically the same as the 2nd generation vehicle produced in 2003 onwards though the new lighting fixtures and interior are awesome by comparison. Hopefully Lincoln in the future will produce better quality panels for the center console and dash buttons, as this was the only part of the entire truck that really bothered me.

If you are looking into purchasing one, I’d have to say it is a great vehicle that you’re going to love with a price that makes it hard to beat.


FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY SUV'S

2007 EXPEDITION-http://www.epinions.com/content_270741048964

2007 FORD EDGE: http://www.epinions.com/content_299356556932



My Reviews of GENERAL MOTORS 2007 GMT-900 trucks:

ESCALADE: http://www.epinions.com/content_241990143620

CHEVY TAHOE http://www.epinions.com/content_251782336132

AVALANCHE: http://www.epinions.com/content_241034301060

YUKON DENALI: http://www.epinions.com/content_242261134980