2019 Lincoln Navigator: Bigger and better in all the right ways

[MUSIC] It's been about 20 years since Lincoln invented the luxury full-size SUV category with the Navigator, and since then it's been a bit of a rocky road for the originator. After all, these days when we think about large and in charge SUV's we mostly think about the Cadillac Escalade well, it's 2018 you all and you can from get all about that Escalade cuz the navigator is back with more luxury attack and the looks that you can shake a stick at. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] So, driving a full size SUV in the city of San Francisco can be a little bit stressful, so I've come out here to the country to test this 3.5 liter twin turbo V6, which is putting out 450 horsepower and 510 pound feet of torque. Now if that sounds familiar to you, you might remember me talking about it when I reviewed the Ford Raptor. That's right, it is the same engine, and it provides more than enough power for acceleration, passing and merging. Power gets down to the rear wheels usually, but I'm in the top of the line four by four model, which also includes a low range. And, like all Ford and Lincoln products with the ten speed automatic transmission, this baby shifts really smoothly, almost imperceptibly, both up and down. It's not afraid to skip gears to make sure that you're always in the right spot, and it helps give an EPA fuel rating of 18 miles per gallon combined, which is pretty much what I'm getting. Here in the real world. And for those of you keeping score, that is better than the Cadillac Escalade and the Infiniti QX80. Now, when it comes to handling, I mean, it's a big SUV, so the ride is really, really soft and cushy. Although it drives a lot lighter than it looks. Don't get me wrong, it is far from nimble. But still, it's not as ponderous as one might think. And there's also what Lincoln calls an excite mode, which is really just a sport mode. It's going to firm up the transmission and the throttle settings, and even give you a little bit of a firmer suspension that makes this guy leap off the line with a grace that belies its seven passenger, 17-and-a-half-foot stance. But really you're not shelling out nearly 100 large just for the way this thing handles, you're here for the luxury, and I cannot talk about the luxury without talking about what Lincoln calls the Perfect Position Seats. So these seat-backs are divided up into three sections, the headrest, the upper back, and the lower back. So combined with the seat cushion they are adjustable 30 ways. This head rest is like pillow soft. And that might not sound like a big deal, but now that I've had it I can't go back to a utilitarian head rest ever. Plus I've got a massage function. Now I don't have as many types of massage as you find in a Mercedes GLS, but still it's a massage. [BLANK_AUDIO] [MUSIC] And the rest of the cabin is just as well appointed. The second row's got it's own climate control. The third row can recline, and I can lower those seats from the back where there's 19 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Fold down that third row and you're looking at 57 and a half cubic feet of space that expands to a 103 cubic feet of space total when everything is folded down. Unfortunately since I've got the second row captain's chairs, my flat load space is a little hindered by that center console, so if you know you're gonna be loading a lot of things into your vehicle, I recommend to get a bench seat for the second row. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The 2018 Lincoln Navigator starts at $72,555, but this one, y'all, is the top of the line Black Label. And including those awesome massage seats, and it's really beautiful blue paint job, you're looking at $97,900. But that's after destination [INAUDIBLE] But hey look at this way this is a fine price upon the navigator which has finally found its way to the top of the class [MUSIC]