Summary
- The 2025 Lincoln Navigator is set to receive a major update, aligning it with the brand’s forward-thinking model lineup.
- Confirmed powertrain details for the new Navigator are scarce, but options may include hybrid technology for improved fuel economy.
- The Navigator will continue to offer a spacious interior, multiple seating configurations, and luxury tech features to compete in the large luxury SUV segment.
Lincoln, as an automaker, has been making leaps and bounds in the realms of technology and performance. Their nameplates have been evolving and growing faster than you can keep track of, with the Nautilus, Aviator, and Corsair all getting major updates in recent times.
Their biggest SUV, however, has not benefited from these developments, at least not until now. The Lincoln Navigator, as it currently exists, has been around since 2018 and has been begging for a refresh. For the 2025 model year, the Navigator will be leaping into the future alongside the rest of its stablemates.
There are still a ton of question marks surrounding what the new Navigator will look like and what exactly it will feature. We do our best, using authoritative sources alongside information sourced from Lincoln themselves, to bring to light everything that you can expect from the next generation of the American luxury brand’s largest SUV.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Lincoln, and other authoritative sources, including Car And Driver, CarBuzz, and FuelEconomy.gov.
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The Navigator Could Either Sport A Twin-Turbo V-6 Or Something Completely New
One of the biggest points of interest anytime any car goes through an update is the powertrain. There is little actually confirmed in the way of what will sit underneath the hood of the new Navigator, but we take a look at some of the options Lincoln has in front of them.
Current Gas Power
|
Engine |
3.5-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-6 |
|---|---|
|
Transmission |
10-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
440 HP |
|
Torque |
510 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
4WD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.3 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
115 MPH |
(Source: Lincoln and Car And Driver)
One of the most outdated parts of the current Lincoln Navigator is its powertrain. There isn’t anything particularly wrong with it, but it doesn’t really align with the forward-thinking model Lincoln has adopted. The twin-turbocharged V-6 offers good power and acceleration is pretty impressive for a car of this size. CarBuzz goes into more detail regarding the capabilities of the current Navigator.
One option that Lincoln obviously has, moving forward towards the 2025 Navigator, is to keep the twin-turbocharged V-6 a little while longer. The main problem with the Navigator is its handling. It’s big and heavy, and options from some of its rivals feel more composed on the road.
Future Options
The Lincoln Navigator sits in the full-size luxury SUV segment, one filled with hybrid and electric SUVs. The first Lincoln electric SUV is just around the corner, but it’s we do not know that the Navigator will go electric alongside the upcoming Star. That leaves hybrid power as the most sensible option for the Navigator.
Not only will hybrid power give the Navigator the power to compete with sportier, more exciting rivals, but it will also improve on the Navigator’s terrible fuel economy. The twin-turbo V-6 currently achieves a combined 18 miles per gallon, according to the EPA. Lincoln might very well keep it around as an option, but we can see a forward-thinking hybrid option, if made available, being much more popular.
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Lincoln’s Massive Navigator Will Come In Two Sizes: Big And Bigger
The Lincoln Navigator is the biggest SUV in the Lincoln lineup, and for the 2025 model year, we don’t expect this to change. For those looking for a giant car capable of comfortably seating six, with plenty of space for luggage afterward, the 2025 Navigator will remain an excellent choice.
Current Size
|
Front Row Headroom |
41.8 Inches |
|---|---|
|
Front Row Legroom |
43.9 Inches |
|
Second Row Headroom |
40 Inches |
|
Second Row Legroom |
42.6 Inches |
|
Third Row Headroom |
37.3 Inches |
|
Third Row Legroom |
40.9 Inches |
|
Cargo Capacity (Behind Third Row) |
20.9 – 36 Cubic Feet |
(Source: Lincoln)
While there are plenty of three-row SUVs out there, from compact SUVs to full-size ones, the Navigator is the best example of the setup. Where others have a third row that is mainly only usable by children, the Navigator has a spacious area that even adults would be comfortable in on longer trips.
The Navigator comes in two different forms, the base short wheelbase version and the Navigator L, which sports an extended wheelbase. We see no reason for Lincoln to deviate from this with the next generation. The short wheelbase has limited cargo space when you put the third-row into service, but long wheelbase models offer eight seats and tons of cargo space at the same time.
2025 Changes
While the newest generation of the Navigator is likely to benefit from a major redesign, which will ultimately affect its overall size, it’s not likely to get much smaller. Lincoln is likely to continue offering the Navigator on short and long wheelbases, and it’s most likely going to continue offering a third-row of seating.
Lincoln should also continue to offer optional captain’s chairs for the second row. This reduces the second row seating capacity but makes these seats much more luxurious. If Lincoln wants to push the Navigator towards being a chauffer-esque SUV, captains chairs in the second row are essential.
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Many Tech Pieces From The Nautilus Could Make Their Way Into The Navigator
As mentioned earlier, Lincoln has been absolutely killing it as far as technology is concerned. Every SUV outside the Navigator has been fitted with cutting edge tech that challenges any other premium automaker. The Navigator has fallen behind in this respect, something we expect Lincoln to rectify with the upcoming model.
The Navigator Is Outdated
The current Navigator does have a lot of strengths. Its interior is cavernously spacious, and it is decked from head to toe in the highest quality materials. Open pore wood and leather are just about everywhere. While high-trim level Navigators get to offer the most luxurious fittings, even entry-level models feel excellent.
The Navigator does have some tech that we don’t expect to go away any time soon. Their massaging seats and 30-way power-adjustable seats are one such thing that we would like Lincoln to hold on to. However, most of its offerings are outdated as far as the luxury SUV segment is concerned and just aren’t as charming or special as other cars out there.
Inherited Technology
The current wonder child in the Lincoln stable is the Nautilus, especially as far as technology and luxury are concerned. Because of this, we expect that the upcoming 2025 Navigator will feature similar styling cues and a bunch of the same innovative technology.
One big update we expect is to the infotainment display. The Nautilus sports a 48-inch screen that spans the entirety of the dash with a separate 11-inch touchscreen for controls. If the Navigator ends up wider than the Nautilus, the screen it has could be even bigger. The Nautilus also features a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, and we could see the Navigator including a similar system. Scent cartridges are also the latest trend in luxury cars, and the Navigator will most likely include them.
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The 2025 Lincoln Navigator Will Have Vicious Competition In Its Class
Large luxury SUVs are more than just a form of transport, they are a status symbol. Among Lincoln are plenty of other automakers who have been developing high-end SUVs for decades. While the 2025 Navigator is set up to be a major competitor in the segment, it will have some tough competition that it will have to go up against.
BMW And Mercedes
These two German brands are known around the world for being the peak of luxury transportation. Whether in SUV or in sedan form, their cars are an experience and their badges demand respect. The X7 and GLS have been in fierce competition alongside the Q7 from Audi.
BMW competes in this segment with the X7 and the performance-oriented XM. In either form, these large SUVs are agile and decked with brilliant interiors. BMW is also being hailed by the likes of Consumer Reports as one of the best new car brands.
Mercedes offers the GLS and the AMG variant. Whether you go for the performance-oriented model or the base model, you’ll be surprised at how quick this three-row car is. Mercedes is also leading the way in terms of luxury fittings and technology at the moment. Their third row of seating also comes pretty close to the size of the one in the current Navigator.
Jeep And Cadillac
The Navigator also faces fierce competition from local automakers. While the Escalade would have always been a given, Jeep has surprisingly also made its way into the luxury market with the Grand Wagoneer.
The Cadillac Escalade is perhaps one of the most renowned status symbols in the automotive world. While other full-size luxury SUVs may be giving it a run for its money, none have the history of the Escalade. This is perhaps the Navigator’s most imposing rival.
The Jeep badge may not stir the same kind of feeling or emotion that some other luxury brands do, but the fittings inside the Grand Wagoneer give any other luxury SUVs a run for its money. Lincoln will also have to update its powertrain to be able to compete with the twin-turbo inline-six in the Grand Wagoneer that pumps out 510 horsepower, all while being similarly economical to the current Navigator’s engine.
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