Enormous Size With Substance. For such a large vehicle, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator certainly looks like it belongs in a well-tailored suit. Few large SUVs manage to look good and hide their substantial size, but that’s what the Navigator does well. With sculpted body lines and an imposing stance, the Navigator is one of the more stylish SUVs on sale.
Lincoln has slightly updated the Navigator’s design for 2022, improving upon the SUV’s already good looks. The Navigator comes with adaptive LED headlights and LED taillights that have a three-dimensional welcome and departure lighting scheme. The grille has also been slightly updated, as has the front end, though things don’t look drastically different.
Major Tech Update. Technology is one of the focal points of the updates on the 2022 Navigator. The SUV’s 10-inch touchscreen has been replaced with a much larger 13.2-inch unit. The larger touchscreen is now running Lincoln’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, which is far more advanced than last year's SYNC 3 system. The new infotainment system brings wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, over-the-air software updates, and a 5G Wi-Fi hot spot.
In the back, passengers get a new 5.8-inch digital module that lets them control the rear climate and audio settings. A rear-seat entertainment system is available that includes a 10-inch screen, wireless headphones, and wireless streaming through Amazon Fire TV. Passengers in the Navigator can also enjoy the rich sound from an available 28-speaker Revel Ultima audio system.
Another new feature that makes its debut for the 2022 model year is Active Glide. It’s Lincoln’s take on a semi-autonomous driver-assist system and allows for hands-free driving on more than 130,000 miles of mapped highway roads in North America. Just like Ford’s Blue Cruise system and General Motors’ Super Cruise, a driver-facing camera keeps an eye on the driver, while the system handles most of the driving. With the new system, the Navigator proves to be a better competitor to the Cadillac Escalade.
Luxurious People Carrier. Even the base Navigator feels more luxurious than the majority of vehicles that compete in the class. For a truly luxurious experience that only a few competitors can match, the Navigator’s higher trim levels are the way to go. With heated and ventilated seats and updated massaging seats in both rows, the Navigator’s cabin spoils passengers. Not to mention, the Navigator’s available 30-way adjustable front seats are some of the most comfortable chairs available in a modern vehicle.
Lincoln has introduced two new themes for its range-topping Black Label trim including the Central Park and Invitation. Both impress with features like open-for wood, laser etched trim pieces, rich leather upholstery, and unique color schemes. While Black Label trims are outrageously expensive, they certainly go big on the luxurious front.
Thanks to the Navigator and available Navigator L’s body large body, the SUV offers an incredible amount of interior space. Both models offer up to 40.9 inches of third-row legroom, which is one of the largest figures for the segment. Cargo volume in the Navigator and Navigator L is equally as impressive, with the former being able to hold up to 103.3 cubic feet of cargo and the latter maxing out at 120.2 cubic feet of cargo space.
Surprisingly Comfortable Ride. Others in the segment come with a V8 engine, but the Navigator continues to come with a twin-turbo V6. While that sounds like the Navigator’s at a disadvantage, that’s not the case. The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 in the Navigator produces 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine produces plenty of grunt to get the hefty SUV down the road despite its blocky blueprint.
More impressive than the Navigator’s straight-line performance is the way it handles. Usually, large SUVs with body-on-frame configurations ride like fancy pickup trucks. That’s not the case with the Navigator, which rides far better than the majority of other large SUVs in the class. The SUV comes with adaptive suspension as standard, but for 2022, Lincoln has added a forward-facing camera to prepare the suspension for incoming bumps. This should result in even better ride quality.
As one would expect, the Navigator is far from efficient. Despite coming with a V6 engine, the Navigator still guzzles fuel. Fuel economy figures for the 2022 model aren’t available yet, but the 2021 SUV is rated to get up to 18 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive.
Final Thoughts. The number of large luxury SUVs continues to grow, but the 2022 Lincoln Navigator remains a compelling choice for drivers that want an old-school vehicle. The changes for the 2022 model year make the Navigator more high-tech and luxurious, improving on things it already did well. It may not have the same power or stately handling as some of its rivals, but the Navigator works as a luxury barge.
As competition, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer offers a gorgeous cabin, a dizzying amount of technology, a powerful V8 engine, and a serene ride on the highway. The Cadillac Escalade is brimming with technology, comes with a standard V8 engine, is available with a somewhat efficient diesel engine, offers a generous amount of cargo space, and has a smooth ride that mimics a luxury car.
