The 2021 Lincoln Navigator continues to be a testament of American-made automotive luxury. The full sized SUV offers three rows of seating with plenty of lavish features to please even the most demanding. Powering the 7-seater Navigator is a twin-turbo V-6 capable of 450 horsepower with an incredible towing capacity of up to 8700 lbs.
That’s not to say the 2021 Lincoln Navigator is unique in its market however. The Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, both offer a more economical alternative while other luxury competitors in the European market such as the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS class also fill the luxury segment as well. Still, the old-fashioned, original American ingenuity exists within the Lincoln brand that’s not found elsewhere (well, maybe the Cadillac Escalade).
For 2021, an optional Monochromatic appearance package is available, swapping the exterior chrome and silver wheels with a darker color tone, plus available black rims. Exterior color choices have also been swapped for a more sophisticated palette that includes Iced Mocha, SilverJade, Blue Diamond, and Rhapsody Blue. Other than optional cosmetic enhancements, the 2021 Navigator remains relatively intact this year.
All trims receive a dependable turbocharged V6 producing plenty of power at 450 hp and 510 lb.ft of torque with the help of a 10-speed automatic transmission. Optional 22 inch wheels are also available as an upgrade to enhance the cosmetic appearance. Buyers in the US can opt for either a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configuration for better traction and stability while Canadian buyers are limited to all-wheel drive for harsh weather immunity. Fuel economy scores in with an EPA rating of 20 mpg for city and highway combined, which puts it on par with the rest of the competitors in the segment.
The Lincoln Navigator’s cabin is both spacious and luxurious, using plenty of high-end materials including open-pore wood grain trims, chrome, leather, high-end stitching, lacquered finishes and quilted leather seating.
Although a 30-way front-seat massaging features are available in the higher trims, lower base trims still have plenty of standard and upgradable features as well, including rear head-rest mounted LCD screens, extended climate controls and built-in lighting.
Given the shear size of the interior, visibility is excellent and the included panoramic sunroof complements the interior cabin space well with an abundance of natural sunlight.
All trims come with a standard 10.0” infotainment touchscreen with available USB ports for all three rows of seating. Lincoln has made substantial upgrades to the infotainment software, and is now very responsive with plenty of eye-candy graphics and animations built into the navigation and app features. Complementary to the Lincoln Navigator, is Lincoln’s smartphone app and related service that includes a six-year subscription to Sirius XM, Traffic alert and Travel Link app software.
Despite the long wheelbase and high center of gravity, the Lincoln Navigator proves easy to drive on both city and highway roads with exceptional visibility and responsive acceleration thanks to its turbocharged V6. Although parking and tight maneuvers can be difficult in small spaces, the Navigator provides plenty of driver assistance software such as cross-traffic alert, rear view and 360-degree camera and collision avoidance systems.
One of the top features of the Lincoln Navigator is its excellent towing capacity of up to 8,700 lbs, making it perfect for hauling large families, plenty of cargo and towing a boat or trailer for adventure seekers.
Our recommended tester reserve model comes priced starting at $97,000, which comes with convenience and luxury features including a heads-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats and driver-assistance features. A Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package is also available for those who want to take advantage of the 8,700 lbs towing capacity.
