Plenty of interest in big luxury trucks

Lincoln refreshed the Navigator for this year, and Ford couldn’t ask for better timing.

That’s because the improved economy and cheap gasoline is firing up interest in these large sport utility vehicles.

For many, the Navigator is a reminder of the days when bigger was better and the concept of a luxury, truck-based, vehicle was new and exciting. For many, it was certainly a more entertaining alternative for an affluent family than the minivans available in the century’s first decade.

But times changed, and more families were forced by the economy to consider other choices. Now with the economy stronger and gasoline less expensive, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in the big Ute.

These are no-compromise vehicles, based on the previous Ford pickup platform. That means there’s plenty of space for people and cargo, good towing capability and all the luxury touches which come with being a Lincoln.

With a suggested retail price starting at $62,475, it better have pretty much everything. This is a truck segment that actually has plenty of competition, with the Navigator fighting it out with similar vehicles from Lexus, Infiniti and Mercedes Benz as well as a new-generation Cadillac Escalade.

So on the 2015 model, buyers can choose the optional Reserve package set to push luxury standards as high as possible. It introduces upgraded premium leather to all three rows of seats, as well as to the armrests, center console lid and gear shift. The entire instrument panel is hand-wrapped leather with contrast stitching and leather glove box door.

This model sports special Ziricote wood trim, new to the automotive industry, which is more commonly found as an accent on yachts. As well, the 2015 Navigator comes standard with a new steering wheel. It’s a Wollsdorf leather-wrapped, wood-trimmed wheel that’s thicker and softer to the touch.

While the Navigator comes standard with 20-inch ultra-bright machined aluminum wheels, the Reserve package brings 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels and power running boards in black or bright stainless steel.

The Navigator comes in eightand seven-passenger versions, thanks to two captain’s chairs in the second row or a fold-flat bench seat, which holds three passengers. The third-row seat folds flat at the touch of a button for more efficient cargo volume.

There are still two wheelbase lengths, standard with a 119.0 in. wheelbase and the extended model with a 131.0-in. wheelbase. The extended-length models provide 128.2 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the first row, 86.3 cu. ft. behind the second row and 42.6 cu. ft. behind the third row. Standard-wheelbase models have 103.3 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the first row, 54.4 cu. ft. behind the second row and 18.1 cu. ft. behind the third.

The power for the Navigator comes from a six-cylinder engine: Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged and direct gasoline injected engine. The twinturbocharged, direct-injected engine is rated at 380 hp. and 460 lb.-ft. of peak torque and that power flows to the wheels through a six-speed, shiftable automatic transmission.

The standard-wheelbase 4x2 Navigator gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Standard-wheelbase 4x4 Navigator rating is 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, while the extended-wheelbase 4x2 model rating is 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The 4x4 configuration rating is 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.

This is the same level of power that other large vehicles get out of a less-efficient but bigger V8, and that’s particularly true of the torque. The result is that power is simply not an issue when driving the 2015 Navigator. It even gets a 9,000-lb. tow rating, with maximum payload of 1,570 pounds. Naturally, fourwheel drive is available.

But the Navigator’s job of doing any job must include doing it quietly and comfortably and perhaps even coddling the vehicle’s occupants. The quiet comes from good engineering, including such things as acoustic laminated glass, enhanced carpet, headliner and insulated door-and-floor panels for a quieter interior.

The refreshed Navigator is better looking than before, with modern running lights and high-intensity discharge adaptive headlamps with LED accents. Lincoln says there are a total of 222 LEDs on the car.

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LINCOLN The Lincoln Navigator has been refreshed for this model year.