Exterior tweaks include a newsplit wing grille, redesigned hood and a bevy of LED bulbs, but the big change is that the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is more potent than the outgoing 5.4-liter V-8; the smaller EcoBoost makes 380 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque versus 310 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque with the V-8. The EcoBoost comes with twin turbos for a jolt of energy when needed and the ability to relax when cruising.
The twin turbos offer quiet yet quick pedal response with no pause or hesitation. Lots of low-end torque to scoot from the light, climb countryside inclines, and even pass 18-wheelers racing along the tollway, which is no small chore.
Power is only one benefit. The EcoBoost V-6 is rated at 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway in 4x2 and15/20 in 4x4 version. Not a mileage champ, but still 2 mpg city and highway better than the 14/20 4x2 and 13/18 4x4 with V-8. More important to those who pull boat, camper or snowmobile is that the V-6 Navigator is rated at the same towing capacity as the old V-8: 9,000 pounds in 4x2, 8,500 pounds in 4x4. Better mileage, better power, but no loss of towing muscle from the V-6.
The ride is luxury-sedan smooth, compliments of a Reserve Equipment option package ($6,850) that teams large 22-inch (20 standard) all-season radials mounted on polished aluminum wheels with Lincoln Drive Control that automatically adjusts suspension settings in split seconds to minimize jostling over irregular road surfaces. Despite the size, handling is similar to that of a luxury sedan also. No needing two (or more) attempts to park between the lines or other cars in the lot. Slip in, slip out. Electrical power steering assist takes credit for easy maneuvering, especially at low speeds in lots and driveways.
The seven-passenger version comes with two captain's chairs in the second row and a wide aisle walk-through to the three-passenger split bench in row three. The eight-passenger has a three-person bench in row two. Plenty of room in any row to stretch legs, wiggle arms or shake the melon without banging the roof. Not just spacious, but an unusually quiet cabin as well from acoustic laminated window glass called SoundScreen, thicker carpet and headliner, and added door and floor panel insulation. Luxury means quiet.To handle more gear or goods, second-row seat backs manually fold flat.Third-row seatsfold flat and return back into their upright position by touching a power button in the rear cargo wall. And the third-row split bench means you can power down both sides if carrying a big load or just one side to hold a passenger and a small load.
Third-row seat headrests are huge and must be lowered by pulling a cloth strap before the seats can be powered down flat. The headrests block some of the view out the rear window, so you may want to keep them lowered when not carrying passengers. A new power open/close rear liftgate makes for easier loading/unloading cargo in back as well as reaching power folding seat buttons.
Power running boards power out of the rocker panels when you open any door and retract back into the rockers when all doors are closed ($6,850 reserve equipment group). The boards go to work if you open either front or rear door to make it much easier to load kids or packages in back before Dad or Mom slips in front. Step into or out of the cabin without boards and you'll need ladder, step stool or trampoline. Fixed boards would be cheaper, but not as much fun —and would get packed with snow or fight obstacles off road.
The reserve package, available on 4x4s only, also adds Hill Start and Hill Descent control so you don't roll backward while starting from an incline or roll too fast forward when traveling down a steep incline when on- or off-road.
SYNC with MyLincoln Touch is standard for the electronically gifted and allows voice-activated or touch-screen controls to make phone calls, play music, manage the navigation system or set cabin temperature.There are still traditional knob controls for the technologically-challenged.Other goodies include push-button start, remote start, keyless entry, heated/cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, rain-sensing wipers,power tilt/telescoping steering column, and a center console loaded with plugs and ports to power or recharge any and all electronic gadgets. Safety features include trailer sway control when towing, rearview camera, blind-spot detection of cars lurking on either side,and cross-traffic detection that wails if anything crosses your path behind when backing up — car or shopping cart.
But Navigator has annoyances that hopefully will be addressed in the next generation, like the emergency brake release lever low under the instrument panel near the door. You need GPS to find it and arms that hang to your ankles to reach it. Why not a traditional pedal that you set/release by foot?
And the dash top slopes forward toward the windshield, where the defroster vents are poised to capture anything left on top of the dash — pen, keys, credit cards, cell phone or toll change. Even worse, drop pen, keys, credit cards, phone and/or toll change between the center console and front seats and there's precious little space to hunt by hand.
