2022 Lincoln Navigator Black Label 4x4: Refreshed With Hands-Free Steering

Highlight: Earl Lucas, who is an African American, is the chief exterior designer for the luxury brand.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $106,285 (Base Model: $78,405)

Seating Capacity: 7 or 8

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a tire pressure monitoring system; perimeter alarm; roll stability control; 360-degree sideview mirrors; emergency braking assistance; hill descent control; remote keyless entry; post-crash alert system; a radar activated cruise control system; lane-keeping system with blind spot assist; a rear cross traffic braking; and an evasive steering assist

Standard Equipment (Base): 20-inch wheels; a rear-wheel drive system;12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster; 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system carpeted Burkeshire and NuBuck Edge floor mats; a tri-zone climate control system; cargo management system; concierge information service; leather steering wheel; heated steering wheel; power-tilt and telescoping steering column; piano key shifter; 10-way power seats; heated driver and passenger seats; four 12-volt power points; smart USB charging ports; tri-zone climate control; push-button start; enhanced noise control; a power hands-free liftgate; and an automatic hold feature

Standard Equipment (Test Vehicle- Black Label): 22-inch wheels; Carpeted floor mats - Front and Rear - Nubuck Edge with DINAMICA Sueded Cloth Accent; 30-way perfect position front seats; venetian leather second row seats; heated rear/ventilated seat and head restraints; a co-pilot assist system; heads-up display; a 28-speaker audio system; second row LCD touchscreen; and third row 60/40 power fold split bench with power recline

Test Vehicle’s Options: a chrome roof rack with black crossbars; all-weather floor liners with front and rear carpet floor mats; an ocean drive Ocean Drive Blue metallic tinted clearcoat paint; and hands-free driving

Other Trim Levels: Reserve

Standard Audio On Base Vehicle: a 14-speaker system with AM/FM/HD radio w/SiriusXM

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 6 years or 70,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged, 6-cylinder engine/440-hp

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Standard Fuel Mileage: 16-city/20-hwy

Standard Towing Capacity: 8,300 lbs

What’s New:  With the 2022 model, the Lincoln Navigator brings new trim levels, as well as an array of upgraded features included new exterior designs, lighting, and internal components, including a hands-free highway driver-assistance system.

Pros:

Availability of hands-free driving steering highway system

A 6-cylinder engine, which is just as powerful as an 8-cylinder engine

Rear-wheel drive

4-wheel drive

Variety of driving modes

Towing capabilities

Spacious

Elegant design

Upscale interior

Easy-to-use features

Large infotainment screen

Supportive seating

Available Heated and ventilated front (and second row seats)

Oversized power sunroof with power sunshade

Crystal clear steering system

Great handling ability

22-inch wheels available enhances the overall appearance and improves the ride

Massaging first-row seats

Massaging second-row seats available

Reclining second and third-row seats

Second-row captain chairs with center armrest and storage

A host of standard self-driving safety aids

An available 28-speaker audio system

But: 

A lot of vehicle to ‘navigate,’ no pun intended, on narrow roads

The Navigator must be special ordered; no longer available to purchase off the dealer’s lot

Due to the chip shortage, the automatic parallel and perpendicular parking system must be installed at a later date

Verdict: The current generation Lincoln Navigator continues to up the ante. In order to keep the brand’s flagship vehicle fresh, this year’s model receives a few nips and tucks. The bold vehicle, with its new waterfall-like grille, dripping chrome, exudes class and sophistication.

Everything about this well-proportioned vehicle embodies the term grandiose – from its carefully tailored airplane-like first class front seats to the user-friendly oversize touchscreen infotainment system to panoramic roof to the super sized computer screens attached to rear head rest of the front seats to the optional 22-inch wheels. Yes, besides an on-demand personal chauffeur, Lincoln’s design and engineering team leaves little for one heart to desire.

In fact, the Navigator personalizes the vehicle by offering what many would consider the next level of autonomous driving, which might be more precise than a personal chauffer. The luxurious SUV is now available with hands-free steering. This next-generation driving system is designed to go head-to-head with the segment competitor, the Cadillac Escalade’s SuperCruise system. Just imagine, taking a cross-country road trip, with your own personal masseuse embedded in the front seats, soothing your aching back, while driving hands-free and listening to your favorite genre music as its being piped out through 28 speakers. This all-accommodating vehicle, with its seamless shifting 440-horsepower engine, is worthy of phrase luxury cruiser.

Overall, the Lincoln Navigator has established itself a worthy player in a segment, where the pricing tips over the $100,000 mark. Is it worth it? Well, you be the judge. In our opinion, it worth every penny plus some, when stacked up against some of its competitors like the all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

Competition: BMW X7; Cadillac Escalade; Infiniti QX80; Jeep Grand Wagoneer; Lexus LX 600; The New Range Rover; and Mercedes-Benz GLS