2022 Lincoln Navigator Review: Upgraded But Not a Game Changer

The new Navigator signaled a design and technology shift for Lincoln when it arrived on the market in 2017. Now, five years later, the Navigator is longer in the tooth and the automaker is hoping that some fresh updates help keep it relevant in an increasingly competitive large SUV segment.

Now mid-generation, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator has been updated with a new grille and front end, standard adaptive pixel projector headlights and 3D taillights. Enhanced voice recognition, a 13.2-inch infotainment touch screen, 12-inch digital configurable instrument cluster, redesigned head-up display, 5.8-inch digital controls for second-row passengers and ActiveGlide safety and driver assist technology make up the bulk of the technological enhancements.

The flagship model, which sits atop the Lincoln lineup above the smaller Corsair, Nautilus and Aviator SUVs, has also gotten new Black Label themes. These upscale design themes symbolize the epitome of luxury of the Lincoln lineup with the finest appointments, designs and client experience options.

Central Park and Invitation join 2022 Navigator's established Yacht Club and Chalet themes. As tested, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator Central Park came equipped with an interior featuring dark Walnut open-pore wood that extends across the instrument panel, laser etched with a design that is said to show the New York City park's scenic pathways, but looks more than a little like the pattern on the bottom of an Asics running shoe. It's exterior wore Manhattan Green paint ($695), a deep color that appears near-black in some light.

Every Navigator in the company's lineup is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that gets 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. The engine is strong, providing plenty of measured power where required. Pulling up to speed is a smooth affair thanks to the SUV's 10-speed automatic transmission.

The front part of the Navigator cabin matches expectation but doesn't move the SUV into territory occupied by luxury giants like Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz. The second row is where the Navigator exceeds much of what is offered by rivals and makes it the model you'll want to be chauffeured around town in.

Second-row seats come with available heat, ventilation and massage capability ($625). Those functions, plus climate controls and audio settings are regulated via a 5.8-inch touch screen, something luxury automakers are moving toward more and more.

Amazon Fire TV, which allows for watching Amazon Prime TV using an existing subscription, elevates the rear seat experience for $2,100, appearing on twin 10.1-inch screens nestled onto the back of the front seats. Bluetooth headsets allow passengers to enjoy their entertainment in silence while the 28-speaker Revel Ultimate 3D sound system delivers audible chimes created by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra that replace traditional alert noises.

The design touches that made Navigator a stunner in 2017 still hold true. Simple and upscale looking shifter buttons, screens that feature a unique font just for the Lincoln brand, and animations are touches that show that the company does understand luxury.

Lincoln fails to impress with its Active Glide driver assistance and safety suite of technology. Billed as being similar to Ford's BlueCruise, the tech employs adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane centering, and traffic sign recognition technology to operate the vehicle in a hands-off capacity on select highways in North America. It comes as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Package, which is standard on Navigator Reserve and Black Label trims.

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Compared to other systems, especially rival General Motors' Super Cruise, ActiveGlide is only half-baked. The Navigator, which is hard to keep in its lane without the tech activated, wanders with Active Glide enabled, even on straight roads. The system is woeful around sweeping corners at speed, requiring hands-on attention, and does not deliver the driver confidence that lesser systems, billed as hands-on by their manufacturers, do.

The 2022 Navigator starts at $76,710. Navigator Black Label models have a starting MSRP of $104,590. As tested, the Navigator Central Park came in around $115,000. For that price, one can get a new Land Rover Range Rover. For far less buyers can purchase the Mercedes-Benz GLS in a high-horsepower, stylish variant.

The General Motors fleet of competitive luxury SUVs, which includes the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon Denali, provide more passenger space and can be equipped with the far superior Super Cruise technology. They are priced closer to the cost of Navigators that don't wear the Black Label badge.

While the Navigator may not be great to drive at highway speed, around town it's not bad, especially if you're a second-row passenger. For that experience, there's fewer vehicles that make more sense.