2025 Lincoln Navigator Review and Test Drive

Design, comfort, and technology upgrades rejuvenate the 2025 Navigator.

Christian Wardlaw | 

Apr 24, 2025 | 7 min read

Christian Wardlaw

When you need a vehicle that can seat up to eight people, carry nearly as much cargo as a minivan, and tow as much weight as a truck while offering four-wheel drive (4WD) and enough ground clearance to get to the cabin and back, nothing but a full-size SUV will do. And if you want some luxury to go with those capabilities, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator is among the few models offering everything on this menu.

Redesigned for 2025, the Navigator is available in standard- and extended-wheelbase lengths with a choice between Reserve, Reserve with Jet Appearance Package, and Black Label trim levels. Base prices range from just over $100,000 to the low $120,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to your local dealership from the Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant.

For this Navigator review, I test-drove a standard-wheelbase Black Label with the Enlighten interior theme in Southern California. Optional equipment included Sunrise Copper paint and the Black Label Special Edition package, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $128,340, including the $1,995 destination charge. Lincoln provided the vehicle for this Navigator review and paid for lodging and meals during the evaluation period.

Christian Wardlaw

Is the 2025 Lincoln Navigator a Good SUV?

Although its rivals, the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer, are compelling vehicles, the Lincoln Navigator holds its own as a well-rounded full-size luxury SUV. Given its exceptionally comfortable seats and quiet cabin, the 2025 Navigator can feel, as Lincoln claims, like a "spa on wheels." Continuing that theme, the Navigator offers a Rejuvenate theme, which incorporates massaging seats, relaxing lighting, and soothing scents. If you're less focused on creature comforts, though, be assured that the new Navigator is also technologically advanced and provides plenty of utility and towing capacity.

Christian Wardlaw

A Clean Design and Comfortable Seats in the 2025 Navigator

The Navigator's new interior is not only sleek, it's been upgraded, with additions such as a new panoramic display tucked beneath the windshield. Modern technology, upscale materials and finishes, and simplified details characterize the cabin, which has a distinctive layered look.

The Navigator's 48.0-inch panoramic display isn't quite as large as the 55.0-inch panel decorating the Cadillac Escalade's dashboard, but it still represents a significant improvement from last year's model and offers Lincoln's new Rejuvenate relaxation, meditation, and wellness programming.

Lincoln has reduced interior controls and clutter. However, I think there are too many features and functions integrated into the touchscreen menus, including air vent and deeper seat adjustments. Better voice controls would help. I tried without success to turn on the seat ventilation system using spoken commands, for example.

Christian Wardlaw

I found the seat comfort was terrific in all three rows, especially when the Navigator has the available 30-way Perfect Position front seats and second-row Power Tailored Seats. Adults can easily ride in the third row, as I did for about half an hour.

If there is a complaint about comfort, it has nothing to do with the seats. Instead, the rigid seatback panels for the front and second-row seats are the culprit, proving unkind to the knees of taller passengers sitting in the second and third rows. Furthermore, the Navigator has precious little room to stretch out. Legroom felt snug for my 33-inch-inseam legs in both rear rows, which is surprising for an SUV of this size.

New for 2025, the Navigator's rear Split Gate is a blessing and a curse. The top portion opens like a traditional liftgate, while the lower portion folds down like a pickup-truck tailgate. This design means items won't roll out of the cargo hold when you open it, and the tailgate supports 500 pounds, making it a good bench seat. With the Navigator L model's extended length, however, the Split Gate design makes it harder to reach items at the base of the third-row seatback.

Cargo volume is generous, though the Lincoln doesn't match the Cadillac. The standard-wheelbase Navigator offers 21.6 cubic-feet behind the third row, 60.8 behind the second row, and 107 behind the front row, while the numbers for the Navigator L are 36.1, 75.4, and 121.6, respectively.

Christian Wardlaw

The 2025 Navigator Has Plenty of Tech

Equipped with a new Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment system, a 48.0-inch panoramic display screen, and BlueCruise hands-free driving assistance, the 2025 Navigator is one of the most technologically advanced Lincolns in history.

In my opinion, the Rejuvenate system is the star of the show, offering meditative sessions through soothing graphics, audio, massage, and Lincoln's Digital Scent technology. During some downtime, I used the standard Waterfall Meditation program, and it genuinely calmed me.

Spanning nearly the width of the windshield and bookended by Revel speakers, the panoramic display offers rich detail, lush graphics, different themes, and personalization capability. You can configure and control the technology using the 11.1-inch center touchscreen, which feels small for a vehicle this size. Fortunately, it offers a thoughtful user experience.

Lincoln Digital Experience includes Google built-in and Alexa Built-in, plus wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. Pairing an iPhone 16 and streaming Apple Music proved effortless, and I thought the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system sounded terrific. In addition, apps allow you to watch YouTube, play video games, or browse the internet when the Navigator is parked.

Google Assistant responded to my usual voice-testing commands quickly. However, it could not assist with some requests, and since Lincoln has put so much functionality into the screen, I think the Navigator could use a more comprehensive voice control system.

Christian Wardlaw

Every 2025 Navigator has the latest version of BlueCruise, Lincoln's hands-free driver-assistance system. BlueCruise can control the steering, braking, acceleration, and driver-signaled lane changes on approved highways and under specific conditions. It is complimentary for the first four years of Navigator ownership.

I tested BlueCruise on Interstate 15 between Temecula and Escondido, California, and it worked exceptionally well in sparse traffic. As a passenger, I observed the in-lane repositioning tech giving semi trucks in adjacent lanes some extra room. Overall, I feel BlueCruise is an industry-leading hands-free technology.

Other safety features include Turn Signal View, which shows a live video feed of the Navigator's blind spots on the panoramic display, and an Intersection Assist designed to help prevent collisions when turning left across traffic.

Lincoln also provides these standard tech features in the 2025 Navigator: Phone as a key, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Hitch Assist, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. I noticed my fully loaded test vehicle did not have a digital rearview camera — a glaring omission in a vehicle designed to carry loads of people and cargo.

Christian Wardlaw

Lively Performance From the 2025 Navigator's V6

Lincoln equips the 2025 Navigator with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine making a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. Seven drive modes are available to calibrate the powertrain's behavior. The optional Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package adds a Slow Climb mode and a trailer-brake controller, and the maximum trailering capacity is 8,700 pounds.

The twin-turbo V6 supplies spirited acceleration and substantial passing power, and it sounds great when revved. But the cabin is so quiet that you can't hear it — or much of anything — on the highway. In some situations, it can take a beat or two before the transmission downshifts and dips into its well of turbocharged torque.

The 2025 Navigator is EPA rated at 15/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined, and during my testing, the SUV averaged 20.3 mpg. That did include a descent from an elevation of 4,000 feet and lots of highway driving, so your mileage may vary.

Christian Wardlaw

Lincoln equips all Navigators with standard 22-inch wheels and an adaptive damping suspension. The test vehicle had larger 24-inch wheels, and they negatively affected the ride quality.

Even with the Normal driving mode's softer suspension setting, the ride on the larger wheels feels firm with plenty of vibration and road shock making its way to the driver through the steering wheel. The bigger wheels may look great on this SUV, but you'll pay a ride-degradation price.

The flip side of that coin is that tire grip is commendable. Still, this SUV weighs more than three tons, and you can feel the pounds when braking or taking a curve.

Christian Wardlaw

Few luxury SUVs provide the capacity and capability of a 2025 Lincoln Navigator. Among them, the redesigned Navigator leads in some ways, competes on equal footing in others, and doesn't fall significantly short overall. I like it, but you should cross-shop it with alternatives to ensure you get the right SUV.

Christian Wardlaw

Chris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.