2017 NYIAS: Lincoln's 2018 Navigator Tries Harder to Be Itself

There has always been something distinctively inelegant about Lincoln’s Navigator. It never felt nearly as special as the Cadillac Escalade and it was difficult to see its owners as people worthy of emulating. Lincoln made some positive headway in its third generation, but Navigator ownership still felt like you received a bum deal on an well-equipped Ford Expedition. It was working-class utility embellished with the lies of premium luxury and sold for more than it was worth.

While the 2018 Navigator still shares its platform with the Expedition, it has done away with that sense of unsavory sameness. They’re both hulking SUVs and fit for similar duties, but the Lincoln now feels prestigious. You can soon say that you drive one while raising your eyebrows in a suggestively triumphant manner. People might even envy you. The 2018 Navigator finally matches the Escalade in both kitschy flair and genuine class. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better than the Expedition, but it does — for the first time in history — provide a real reason to covet one over the other.

As this is the first time anyone has seen it in person, we haven’t driven it yet. However, unless it handles like a broken shopping cart, all of the above praise still stands.

Lincoln seems to be experiencing a return to form as of late and is becoming, dare I say, stylish again. The bodywork is just rounded enough to give the illusion of being sleek and boxy enough to further enhance its imposing stature. The Navigator has serious presence and uses a 450 horsepower/500 lb-ft twin-turbo V6 to move all that curb appeal around. Odds are good that it will be the same 3.5-liter that’s in Ford Raptor. Lincoln also borrowed a page from the F-Series’ book by implementing an aluminum-alloy body that shaves 200 pounds from the Navigator.

According to the manufacturer, those weight savings been reinvested into sound deadening and plusher amenities. While we cannot vouch for how incredible the sound system is or how effectively the laminated glass eliminates noise until we’ve driven one, oh boy, are those some nice seats. Even if they weren’t thirty-way adjustable with heating and cooling functionality, they would still be the single best looking seats to be installed on a late-model production car.

The interior is littered with USB, SD, and HDMI ports and the standard in-car wi-fi can support up to ten devices simultaneously. An available rear-seat entertainment system allows passengers to stream content wirelessly via a smart device to one of the 10-inch adjustable screens mounted on the rear of the front seats. No matter where you’re sitting in Lincoln’s flagship SUV, the odds are good that it will be much nicer than where you sitting beforehand.

If you’re worried it might be too much vehicle for you to handle, don’t be. The Navigator now has adaptive cruise control, Ford Motor Co.’s next generation of parking assist, and 360 degrees worth of cameras — if you want to try to park the giant yourself.

Again, we don’t yet know how well it drives, but — assuming Lincoln hasn’t managed to severely muck up the suspension — the Navigator will still look good parked in the driveway and make a fine substitute for your La-Z-Boy recliner.

[Images: Matt Posky/The Truth About Cars; Ford Motor Company]