2021 Lincoln Navigator Black Label

Did you ever wish your large SUV felt like a corporate jet inside? The 2021 Lincoln Navigator will grant those wishes. Sitting at the top of the Ford family mountain, this Lincoln flagship features bold styling, luxury and a high-class vibe. Selecting the Black Label trim level, as our tester was, will knock the price above $102,000, but when it comes to the luxe-life, there’s no room for penny-pinching. Napleton News had a chance to pretend recently (as if). Read on to find out what we thought.

Navigate your way out of this.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV that is larger than large and actually requires a driver to be at the top of their game. Ideally, a driver should be sharply focused when steering this big ship. According to some critics, it has the finest luxury interior found in any sport utility vehicle. That interior, by the way, is good for up to eight passengers and all their things.

The Navigator is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine making 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Normally a rear-wheel drive SUV, ours featured Black Label trim which loads it up with many desirable features, including 4-wheel drive (4WD). This engine mates to a ten-speed automatic transmission and includes Lincoln’s Trailer Tow package as standard. This package allows the Navigator to tow up to 8,700 pounds. It’s the only powertrain available for the Navigator, but it is stout enough to clock in with an EPA estimated 16 city/21 highway mpg.

The Navigator is available as a 3-row standard model or as the extended-length Navigator L, which adds $3,200 over the base price.

How does it look?

Looking every bit like the love child between a Lincoln Continental and a Ford Expedition, the Lincoln Navigator displays a massive presence. An enormously large grille starts the party, making an entrance with authority. Upon arrival, the Navigator’s power-deployable running boards release their charges.

A large Lincoln target LED helps light the way from the center of the grille. The LED theme continues to the headlamps on either side and follows the Navigator’s character lines down the side flanks to the wraparound tailgate and its LED lighting. There’s just enough bling to be tasteful and not over the top here. Finish it off with a classically elegant Lincoln logo spelled out in block letter script. It’s truly a case of less is more here.

How about the Lincoln Navigator interior?

The interior of the 2021 Lincoln Navigator is the part that is getting all the attention. Start with our Black Label and its cabernet-hued destination theme leather interior. In the front seats are 30-position “perfect position” seating with heating, ventilation and massage functions. The 2^nd-row includes a pair of captain’s chairs (our Navigator only seats seven) with a pass-through to the Powerfold rear seat that surprisingly can seat three across.

The Navigator includes loads of technology, a 10-inch LCD centerstack display and a 12-inch LCD gauge cluster that can be configured any way you like. The Lincoln/Ford Sync system is back, offering smartphone connectivity and a wireless charging pad. Lincoln Connect is on-board with 4G Wi-Fi capabilities for multiple devices. Finally, audiophiles will be excited over the Harman International-designed Revel Ultima 20-speaker Premium Audio System.

Since this is a Black Label model, it includes a variety of customer service features. They include 4-year/50,000-mile premium maintenance, Remote new vehicle delivery, Remote service pickup and redelivery, anytime car washes, travel collection (we assume travel bags) and more.

Safety and more

Safety features are loaded into this Lincoln along with the latest technology. At the top of the list is the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 with forward collision warning and pedestrian detection. There’s blind-spot monitoring which comes in handy considering the overall size of the Navigator, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking. Trailer coverage, automatic high beams, lane keep assist and front and rear parking sensors round out the suite.

Behind the wheel of the Lincoln Navigator

It’s a big vehicle. There’s no getting around the fact this Lincoln Navigator is large and in charge. Heck, it’s even large by full-sized SUV standards. But size isn’t everything and the Navigator’s does nothing to hinder the twin-turbo V6’s power when cruising down the highway.

The adaptive suspension offers a well-modulated soft, cushiony ride. This Lincoln includes an engine that is as powerful as many large V8s found in other large SUVs. Despite its size, the 3.5-liter turbo V6 just moves you, all while in lovely surroundings. That’s all you can ask for and this powertrain delivers it in spades.