Europeans and car snobs scoff at cars that put a premium on space, comfort and convenience over Nurburgring lap times, not understanding that most people drive because they have to, not because they want to. Most drivers favor cars and trucks that pamper rather than enthusiastically perform.
This is why Cadillac buyers are content to buy an Escalade for six figures but won't consider a Cadillac sedan at half the price. This is because the sedans don't ride comfortably; they successfully emulate a German sports sedan. The problem is no one wants a Cadillac that handles like a German sports sedan, and Cadillac sedan sales prove it. Buyers want a Cadillac to handle and look like a Cadillac. Being big, brash and comfortable, the Escalade comes closest.
Lincoln understands what Cadillac does not. It's fine to modernize your heritage, but you don't trample it underfoot. Not that Lincoln didn't do just that by offering such models as the MK-S sedan, a vehicle so utterly lacking in luxury, it's no mystery what the "S" in its name stood for. But in its place is the Continental, a real luxury car with a real name, followed on its heels by the lavish new 2018 Navigator SUV, a vehicle that finally gives the Escalade a run for its money.
The new Navi comes in regular (210 inches long) and extended-length L models (221 inches long), both numbers similar to those of the long-dead Lincoln Town Car, which was 215 or 221 inches long depending on model. But the Navigator taps the TC's unabashed extravagance and dramatically amplifies it for the 21st century.
Like the Town Car, the Navigator is built body-on-frame. And while it doesn't have a V-8 like the TC, its twin-turbocharged V-6 produces 47 percent more horsepower. Yes, it only holds 19 cubic feet of luggage with the seats up, two less than the Town Car, but it can transport an additional pair of adults in the third row that folds to offer an additional 38.2 cubic feet of space. Best of all, the Navigator is indulgently opulent, with cossetting seats, a sublimely comfortable ride and indulgent array of convenience features.
For the driver, there's a customizable 12-inch electronic instrument cluster, augmented by an optional head-up display that projects speed and other information onto the windshield. There's also speed-dependent lighting that narrows the beam of light as the vehicle accelerates to help eliminate glare.
And of course, the vehicle is connected. There are six USB ports, four 12-volt power outlets and a 110-volt plug. A wireless charger is located next to dual USB charge/Sync data ports. Speaking of Sync, Lincoln's infotainment system features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa connectivity and is fairly easy to use, although some settings re buried in obscure sub-menus. There's also a LincolnWay app that starts, locks, unlocks and locates your ride, as well as schedules remote starts. More conveniently, you can arrange for vehicle pickup for service, or find and pay for parking. You can do this from front seats that offer massages, heating, and cooling, and can be adjusted 30 different ways. The second row seats aren't as flexible, but do recline and can be heated.
Try that in a Town Car.
Pushing all of this extravagance to 60 mph is a twin-turbocharged V-6 and 10-speed automatic that provides plentiful power, just as it does in the Ford F-150 Raptor through the rear wheels or all four. The real star here, however, is the transmission, which always seems to respond exactly as you want it to, and always seems to be in the proper gear. Fuel economy came in at slightly more than 18 mpg in mixed driving. A drive mode selector can change its personality somewhat, adjusting for inclement weather, or conserving fuel, but most drivers will rarely fuss with it. The ride is very comfortable, although it's not entirely isolated. The worst road shocks make their presence known, and there are some body motions, as you'd expect. Yet the Navigator handles corners far better than you'd presume for a vehicle of its size, although maneuvering in narrow spots calls for patience, like any large vehicle.
Best of all, it is wrapped in sophisticated, slab-sided sheet metal that's tastefully chic, even if its mass is similar to that of a backyard shed. For most buyers, its size will seal the deal.
After all, this is a true American luxury vehicle, with size, status, sumptuousness, speed, chrome and comfort that easily tops the longtime luxury leader in this class, the Cadillac Escalade.
Living large never felt so good, even in a Town Car.
Stats
Base prices: $73,250-$101,765
Engine: Twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 450
Torque: 510 pound-feet
EPA fuel economy (city/highway): 16/21-23
Wheelbase: 122.5 inches
Length: 210 inches
Cargo capacity: 19.3-103.3 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 8,300-8,700 pounds
Curb weight: 5,685-5,855 pounds
ABOUT THE WRITER
Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida. Readers may send him email at [email protected].