Updated styling includes a unique Black Label grille and more advanced, slimmer headlights
Today’s luxury buyers want more from their luxury SUV purchase and ownership experience. These well-heeled customers expect the latest technology, increased personalization, premium materials, distinct styling, and a purchase process reflecting the ever-evolving retail environment. Lincoln understands this, and has improved its sales and market share in recent years by focusing on these areas.
Sumptuous interior materials are a trademark feature in the Lincoln Navigator
For instance, the luxury brand’s flagship model, the Lincoln Navigator, benefited from a ground-up redesign a few years ago that substantially increased its desirability — and doubled its market share — within the highly-competitive full-size luxury SUV segment. With fresh styling, opulent interior materials and superb ride and handling the Navigator set a new benchmark in the category and forced some longstanding rivals to step up their game, which they did.
New adaptive suspension technology further enhances the Navigator's driving dynamics
To further bolster its market position, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator benefits from a series of updates across multiple areas. Core features, including its turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, remain unchanged. The 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque supplied by that engine, combined with the Navigator’s intuitive steering feedback, sublime suspension tuning and reassuring brake feel, make it a study in confident-yet-coddling luxury.
Manhattan Green is among the colors offered on the 2022 Lincoln Navigator
Supplementing these traits is a new Adaptive Suspension with Road Preview system that uses 12 sensors and a forward facing camera to read the road 500 times a second and make adjustments up to 100 times a second. That bump you didn't see coming? The Navigator did, and adjusted the ride quality to counter it. The new camera and sensors also power the really big news for the 2022 Lincoln Navigator — ActiveGlide hands-free driving technology.
New ActiveGlide technology allows for hands-free driving for extended periods
Similar to Ford’s “BlueCruise” system on the new Mach-E, ActiveGlide let’s Navigator drivers enjoy extended hands-free driving on over 130,000 miles of highways across the U.S., as indicated by blue light cues in the gauge cluster and head-up display when the system can be engaged. Of course this isn’t full self-driving, and a cabin-facing camera monitors head and eye position to ensure continued focus from the driver when using ActiveGlide, but the system undeniably reduces stress and fatigue when in operation.
The new 13.2-inch central touchscreen offers the latest Sync 4 interface
The advanced technology theme continues with a new 13.2-inch central touch screen featuring Sync 4. This is Ford’s latest user interface, and on the Navigator it offers cloud connectivity, over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus upgraded Amazon Alexa connectivity with natural language interaction. This means straightforward requests, like “Alexa, find the closest gas station” or, when using the Lincoln Way app while away from the vehicle, “Alexa, how much range is left before I need fuel?” Other remote, voice control features include starting or stopping the engine, locking or unlocking the doors, and checking tire pressure.
Second-row accommodations include massaging seats and Amazon Fire TV
Second-row passengers will find added tech and luxury features in the form of standard heated and ventilated seats, and optional massaging seats (the first in this segment). Controlling these second-row features is a new 5.8-inch touchscreen, along with dual 10.1-inch display screens powered by Amazon’s Fire TV. We experienced all of these luxury features, and particularly enjoyed the ability to call up a wide range of movies and TV shows and experience them with wireless headphones. Credit to Lincoln for including 16 GB of on-board digital storage, meaning you can save your shows to a hard drive ahead of time and watch them later, even without internet access.
Dual laser etching on open-pore wood trim is an industry first seen in the new Navigator
Mixed in with these technology updates are two new luxury themes introduced on the 2022 Lincoln Navigator. Dubbed “Central Park” and “Invitation”, they each offer a unique combination of interior colors and trim, including open-pore dark walnut wood in Central Park models or open-pore Khaya wood with the Invitation theme. Lincoln reps told us the dual laser-etching featured on the Invitation theme is an industry first process. These themes join the existing “Chalet” and “Yacht” themes offered on Black Label Navigators starting in 2018. Starting price for a 2022 Lincoln Navigator is $91,390, including a $1,645 destination charge.
An optional Revel Ultima 3D audio system features 28 speakers
Future Lincoln plans include a move to electrified drivetrains over the next 10 years and an increase in non-traditional retail experiences. These will be reflected in virtual vehicle walk arounds, fully digital purchase processes, and boutique showrooms placed in upscale locations. The latter will allow consumers to learn about Lincoln products and Black Label curated services from non-dealer Lincoln representatives. We experienced this atmosphere at Sanderson Lincoln’s boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona, and feel it represents the future of luxury retailing. A similar Lincoln boutique experience center will be opening soon in Bethesda, Maryland.
The 2022 Lincoln Navigator starts at $91,390, including destination charge
Every aspect of Lincoln’s vehicles, from naming conventions to exterior design to interior materials and technology, has been completely overhauled in recent years. The result was Lincoln’s highest global sales in 21 years, despite a microchip shortage that restricted production. This included 48 percent year-over-year growth in China, the highest sales numbers since entering that market in 2012. The latest updates to the 2022 Navigator suggest Lincoln understands the changing nature of today’s luxury buyers and is adapting to keep pace.
