2012 Lincoln Navigator Preview

If the world is your ocean, the 2012 Lincoln Navigator is not a bad ship to you on your daily trips to work, shopping, or extensive set of U.S. highways. With a leather-and wood-paneled interior, the Navigator is as luxurious as it is accommodating. And seven-passenger seating and a length that varies between 208 and 223 cm depending on the model, it is very accommodating. Power comes from a 5.4-liter V-8 capable of 310 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, allowing administrators the ability to draw as much as 9000 pounds when properly equipped. Entering the sixth model year, the current Navigator cases behind its competitors by nearly 100 horsepower in the full-size SUV segment. While Lincoln's words dropped in favor of alphanumeric names in the rest of its lineup, the Navigator as the last of an era where Town Cars, Continentals, and marks the Lincoln lineup ruled. The body-on-frame construction is still common in the luxury off-roader class, but it goes out of style in favor of lighter unibody construction. The Navigator has an impressive list of available technology, but it will not save a growing list of newer, more modern rivals.

Body style: five-door SUV

Engines: 5.4l V-8

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Models: Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Navigator L

The 2012 Navigator will AppLink Sync technology that allows users to program their favorite phone applications in the award winning Sync infotainment system. It will allow drivers to not only speak through a speaker phone, but it must also allow them to check for delays, book reservations, and many other activities to achieve without their hands off the wheel. Also new were the Autumn Red Metallic and Black exterior colors and swirl walnut and olive ash wood trim optional.

Big, bold and brash, the Lincoln Navigator outside of harkens back to the style of the Lincoln Continental in the 1960s. With a cross-grille and chrome galore, the Navigator was no different than the American. Helping wealthy passengers in and out of the car running boards that automatically deploy when the doors open and climbing back into the body when the doors closed. Perhaps more helpful, however, is the standard power tailgate only a push of a button on the keyfob up or down to.

Accordance with the retro theme, Lincoln dashboard finished in swaths of satin finish aluminum and wood, which was decorated with Lincoln in the year 1960 in mind. Seats are wide and stuffed with massive center console separating the passengers in the front two rows. The same passengers also enjoy heated leather seats, and rear passengers can enjoy two optional seven-inch monitors integrated into the driver and front passenger headrests. The Navigator has a THX audio system, and power-adjusting pedals are optional.

With three tons of mass to move, feel the Navigator up to speed. But once it gets to the intended speed, highway cruising is a breeze, and the ride is smooth. Despite a four-wheel independent suspension, the Navigator is not a sports car when the road gets twisty. The ride is soft, and the great Lincoln is experiencing a large amount of body roll. However, the stability, traction and roll stability control, the treatment is not scary.

The Navigator helps AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Traction Control, Safety Canopy curtain airbags for all three rows, tire pressure monitoring, SOS post-crash Safety Alert, dual-stage front and seat-mounted airbags and anti-theft detection and the electronically programmable MyKey to limit speeds and radio settings as standard equipment. Also optional Sync is a system that alerts the police in the event of an accident.

Navigator: 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway (2WD), 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway (AWD)

Navigator L: Not rated