Text by Tom Appel
Text by Tom Appel2026 Lincoln Navigator Reserve 4WD
Class: Premium Large SUV
Country of manufacture: United States
Seating capacity: 7
Color: Starlight Gray
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | A- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 440-horsepower 3.5-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Miles Driven: 172
Observed fuel economy: 16.6
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 15/22/17 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $101,995 (not including $2595 (destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special color ($750), second-row power captains seats with center console ($2995), heavy-duty tow package ($750), 48-month satellite-radio plan ($400), 24-inch black-finish alloy wheels ($2995)
Price as tested: $112,480
Audio-System Brand
Revel Ultima
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Class-leading refinement, outstanding passenger comfort
The good: Impressive power, good handling, runs on regular-grade gas
The not so good: Pricey options add up quickly
Review
Is Lincoln underselling the Navigator? The Ford luxury division’s largest and most-expensive SUV is the equal of other vehicles in this class, but doesn’t enjoy nearly the sales volume of the segment leading Cadillac Escalade.
We recently reviewed the Infiniti QX80, and as part of our test drive, and shared sales numbers for all the players in the Premium Large SUV category, you can check them out here. You’ll see that the Navigator isn’t getting the consumer love you might expect, or that it deserves. We blame, to some extent, classy but conservative styling, as well as a lack of sporty pretense—not that nearly 6000-pound SUVs should be especially sporty.
Design
We find the Navigator’s cooly understated presence very appealing, but wonder if many shoppers in this arena are looking for a little more bling that the big Lincoln serves up, and that’s sort of a shame.
Base Model
For 2026, the entry Premiere trim level returns to the Navigator lineup, giving the model, again, a starting price under $100,000. Other than that, the big Lincoln is mostly unchanged, save for some minor equipment shuffling between trim levels.
Long and Short
Like the Escalade, and unlike the QX80, the Navigator is available in two sizes: standard, and long-wheelbase L. Going with the L adds 3 inches in overall length, and a whopping 9 inches of wheelbase. The added wheelbase pays off primarily in 3rd-row legroom and cargo space, and should improve highway ride quality as well. Also, L variants enjoy the added range of a slightly larger fuel tank.
Engines
There is just one Navigator engine, a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. Dubbed EcoBoost when found in Ford-brand vehicles, the big six produces a healthy 440 horsepower on regular-grade gasoline. A 10-speed automatic is the only transmission offered.
Prices and Trim Levels
The Navigator lineup is pretty simple, making it easy for shoppers in the segment to make buying decisions. For 2026, the trim-level options look like this:
- Premiere ($94,890)
- Reserve ($104,890)
- Black label ($122,420)
For 2026, 4WD is standard across the lineup, while going with the longer L body adds $3000 to the bottom line.
Test Car
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2026 Reserve loaded up with options, including extra-cost Starlight Gray paint. All told, our test car came to a sobering $112,480.
Though all the big luxury SUVs offered for sale in the U.S.—except the trimmer Lexus LX—are about the same size, the Ford models feel the roomiest to us. We appreciate the large door openings, relatively easy step-in, airy cabin, and decent outward visibility.
Though our test vehicle was not a long-wheelbase L version, 2nd-row space remains vast, and 3rd-row space is adult friend, providing that adult is nimble enough to crawl back there.
Controls and Connectivity
Though updated for 2025, we found the control layout familiar, and generally Ford easy-to-use, and that’s high praise.
Most impressive, however, is the massive, pillar-to-pillar, LCD screen which is positioned below the windshield. The sprawling, easy-to-read monitor can be configured to present whatever information you would like to see at a glance, and is independent of the console screen (see above). This editor chose to have an analog clock, current music choice, a map, and trip information on display. And, despite the screen location, it is not easily washed out, ever by direct sunlight.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin itself is a classy, understated affair. Lined with top-notch materials and built to a high standard, the Navigator interior is among the classiest in the premium large SUV segment. Also, the Revel-brand audio system found on our test vehicle is among the best in-vehicle sound systems we’ve ever experienced.
Quietness
Underway the Navigator earns kudos for sound—what you hear, and what you don’t. Very little wind and road noise makes its way into the cabin, and easy 1st-to-3rd-row conversation is possible, even at highway speeds. As for what you do hear, the aforementioned Revel audio system will delight owners who put a value on high-end sound reproduction.
Ride and Handling
The suspension deftly filters out road imperfections, though is biased slightly to a firmer “European” ride experience. We found the ride appropriate for the character of this vehicle, but some shoppers may be looking for something cushier. We appreciate the sophisticated feel of the chassis setup, and suspect drivers moving up from smaller vehicles will as well. Definitely take time for a test drive, though.
And while the Navigator defies being hustled, it handles better than anything this large should. We appreciate the steering feel—there is some—and the quick throttle response. The brakes feel reassuringly strong, as well.
As much as possible—it’s impossible to completely deny the physics—the Navigator feels smaller from behind the wheel than it is…unless you’re trying to park it in a public garage. Inside, however, this mighty Lincoln flagship feels huge, which is sort of the point of owning one.
Power and Performance
The turbocharged V6 produces plenty of passing and merging power, and launches the big Lincoln from a stop with authority. It also sounds great when pushed. The 10-speed automatic seems to always be in the right gear, and shifts with the refined polish of a European luxury sedan.
Cargo Space
As for cargo space, there’s a lot of it, especially with the 3rd-row seats folded down. While the load floor is a little high off the ground, it is flat, making sliding boxes for-and-aft easy.
Value
If you are in a position purchase a $100,000 large SUV, then value is, at least for you, a relative term. We see the attraction here, and if you need the power and space, the Navigator is likely to make you very happy. We slightly prefer the Infiniti QX80, primarily for its lower prices. Also, if you don’t need all of the space, we strongly suggest adding the Lexus LX 600 to your test drive list. But, as we noted earlier, the Lincoln’s relatively conservative design appeals to us for its restraint, to the extent that anything in this segment is truly understated.
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2026 Lincoln Navigator Reserve Pictures
(Click below for enlarged images)
