new generation
Navigator gets new engine: Update for 2015 improves big Lincoln’s looks, performance
Agigantic Lincoln Navigator with a V6 engine? I couldn’t have imagined such a thing a few years ago, but I found myself sitting in one today.
While the Navigator has always come with a big, unabashedly thirsty V8 engine before now, Lincoln decided to drop the eight-cylinder engine in favor of one that’s more in tune with the times: a twin-turbocharged, 3.5liter V6 for the 2015 edition.
The EcoBoost engine does a great job of mimicking a V8 in the Navigator, offering the same low-end grunt and throaty, seductive exhaust note that large-displacement American engines are famous for.
Even better, this V6 engine outperforms the Navigator’s old V8 by a noticeable margin.
Horsepower for the new engine is up to 380, and torque is increased to 460 pound-feet, all while gas mileage is improved to 22 mpg on the highway and 16 in the city — if you can believe the ratings. These EcoBoost engines are getting a reputation for burning more fuel than the window sticker would indicate.
Still, who would buy a vehicle like this for the gas mileage?
The new 2015 Lincoln Navigator continues to offer over-the-top levels of performance and luxury.
Even my long-wheelbase tester, which carried extra heft because of its extended length, accelerated like a smaller SUV and effortlessly zoomed to 75 mph before the end of freeway on-ramps.
It’s fun to stomp the gas pedal and hear the engine do its best angry-lion impersonation.
Of course, you can’t mention the Navigator without bringing up its arch-nemesis, the Cadillac Escalade.
The Cadillac Escalade gets an allnew design for 2015 that makes the Navigator show its age a bit — especially on the outside body panels, and to a lesser extent with the interior quality.
After driving the new Escalade a few months ago, though, one thing that surprises me is that I still prefer Navigator’s ride.
The Lincoln Navigator feels softer and smoother than the Cadillac Escalade to me, and I appreciated the Navigator’s silky, squishy suspension setup on some long stretches of interstate highway.
In addition, third-row passengers will appreciate the Navigator’s spaciousness. Due to a difference in rear suspension designs, the Cadillac has a higher floor than the Navigator in back, making the Lincoln more suitable for adults in a pinch.
Overall, the 2015 Navigator is a nice improvement on a tried-and-true design. The Navigator’s new EcoBoost engine makes it drive like a more modern SUV without compromising on power.