2018 Lincoln Navigator

Pricing for the 2018 Navigator begins at $73,250 for the two-wheel-drive Premiere trim, but can soar to over $104,000 for an optioned-up, extended L variant, all-wheel-drive Black Label model. Standard exterior features include 20-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights, fog lights, signature lighting, rear lights, and daytime running lights. The interior cossets with wood trim, ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control, heated first- and second-row seats, power-adjustable pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12-inch LCD instrument cluster, and a hands-free, foot-activated liftgate. Rain-sensing wipers, push-button start and shift, power folding second and third rows, a 4G modem with Wi-Fi hotspot capability, remote start, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column are also standard.

Standard safety items include a rearview camera with washer, forward and reverse sensing systems, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. A $2,640 Technology Package on Select and Reserve models – standard on Black Label – adds a number of advanced safety features.

With a single engine and transmission and an extensive standard feature set, it comes down to how much further you want to stretch the premium envelope. We'd opt for the Select trim which adds the adaptive suspension, power running boards, 22-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, second row captain chairs, and its access to advanced safety features.

Here’s how we’d build it:

• Model: 2018 Lincoln Navigator Select
• Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
• Output: 381 hp / 401 lb-ft
• Transmission: 10-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Four-wheel drive
• MPG: 13 City / 17 Hwy
• Options: Four-wheel drive ($2,655), Technology Package ($2,640, head up display, active park assist, pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with driver impairment monitor and lane keeping assist), Panoramic Vista Roof ($1,995).
• Base Price:$77,250 (including the $1,195 destination charge)
• Best Value Price:$84,540

The twin-turbo V6, with plenty of low-end torque, pairs nicely with the 10-speed automatic for decent off-the-line acceleration, while the adaptive electronic steering system does a nice job dealing with the Navigator's mass. The ride is equally smooth, courtesy of a fully-independent suspension (Select and above trims get an even silkier variable air suspension) and massive 22-inch wheels that manage to filter out the even the harshest of road surfaces.

At the same time, there's no getting around the Navigator's prodigious mass – a number that can clear three tons in top trim. As such, transmission downshifts are frequent, road imperfections are often smothered rather than absorbed, and the turning circle is a very urban-unfriendly 40 feet. Finally, despite a new powertrain and the use of aluminum body panels, fuel economy is down from last year.

In a tip of the hat to Navigators past, the all-new model features bold corners and side creases while taking a page from Land Rover's playbook with a slim, pillar-free greenhouse. It begins up front with a massive mesh grille sporting Lincoln's vertical-gunsight badge that's backlit by LEDs on upper trims. Along the sides, a chiseled character line tapers off toward the back, where it meets big taillights that stretch across the entire rear gate.

Ensconced inside the sheetmetal is a voluminous interior that features 19.3 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with that row down, and 103.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The interior thrives on sensory overload. High-definition displays dominate the wide horizontal dash, with a 12-inch configurable cluster in front of the driver and a 10-inch touchscreen above the center console.

Even base front seats are soft and supportive, with optional 30-way chairs available on upper trims. The middle row is equally comfortable, with power running boards making ingress and egress effortless, while the third row offers more room than the back seat of the MKZ. All this is surrounded by trim that ranges from the merely sumptuous to Bentley levels of opulence.

While there are few nits, a couple should be mentioned: storage behind the third row on standard models is on the tight side, while six-footers sitting back there may have to recline the seat back for enough headroom.

The Navigator's excellent V6, smooth ride, and luxurious interior are offset by its sheer mass and exceedingly expensive upper trim levels.

With a smooth ride and a massive, spectacularly opulent interior, the Navigator should find a home with luxury-conscious buyers.

At the same time, the Navigator's mediocre fuel economy is sure to be a turn off for eco-conscious buyers.

Despite being bigger, heavier, and extravagantly expensive in upper trims, the back-in-the-game 2018 Lincoln Navigator marks a return to the brand's luxury SUV swagger, making it a top pick in its class.