The 2018 Lincoln Navigator goes on sale this fall with a starting price nearly $10,000 greater than that of its predecessor. The new model’s $73,250 base price isn’t for naught, as Lincoln’s all-new flagship SUV features an aluminum-intensive body, a higher-quality cabin, and an improved powertrain that swaps the old Navigator’s six-speed automatic transmission for a new 10-speed unit and juices the SUV’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine from 380 to an expected 450 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive continues to be the default setup, although all-wheel drive is available for $2655.
The order books open at the entry-level Navigator Premiere, which includes niceties such as LED headlights, a 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster, heated first- and second-row seats, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, blind-spot monitoring, and a proximity key with push-button start. The Premiere trim is strictly limited to the 210-inch-long Navigator, while the higher-end Select, Reserve, and Black Label trims can be applied to the Navigator L, a designation that denotes another 11.9 inches of overall length.
Moving up the ladder to the $77,250 Navigator Select or the $81,945 Navigator L Select brings additional niceties such as 22-inch-diameter wheels (two inches larger than the Premiere’s), a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, and an adaptive suspension. Those looking to step up to the Reserve or Black Label trims had better be happy wi...