Used Lincoln Navigator Buying Guide
Lincoln is the luxury arm of the Ford brand, and the Navigator is the luxury counterpart to the Expedition. Luxury doesn’t usually come in a size this large, but the Navigator is here if you want maximum seating combined with maximum quality. And when you buy a Lincoln Navigator used, you don’t have to pay the maximum price for a large luxury sport utility vehicle. In this used buying guide, we take a tour of the various generations of the Lincoln Navigator, so you can get the model year that’s right for you.
Fourth Generation (2018-present)
The most modern Lincoln Navigators on the used lot would be from the current generation that kicked off in 2018. The Navigator added 70 horses to its power output over the 2017 model year. And reported complaints have been extraordinarily few and far between for the entire generation. This generation was the first to have industrial-grade aluminum-alloy body construction, which the Ford F-150 pioneered a few years previous. The fourth-generation Navigator also saw a significant exterior redesign, making it look more like the Lincoln Continental. The cabin got a significant boost in quality, and Lincoln added adaptive cruise control, collision prevention, surround-view parking camera, and head-up display.
Third Generation (2007-2017)
Few would mistake a third-generation Navigator for any other model. Its distinctive design really set it apart. Some loved it, some didn’t. We’ll let you be the judge. Its engine put out 300 horsepower at first, added 10 hp in 2009, and then delivered 380 starting in 2015 with a new Ecoboost V6 engine. 2015 was also the model year in which the Lincoln Navigator saw a refresh, with an exterior and interior update.
Second Generation (2003-2006)
The second-generation Navigator was very short-lived spanning just four model years. While there were few complaints from consumers relative to most other vehicles, this is still the generation with the most recorded issues. Side airbags and tire pressure mounting system were brand new, along with power running boards, power-folding third row seats, power liftgate, and HID headlights. A 5.4-liter V8 engine delivered 300 horsepower. The second-generation Navigator got a minor facelift in 2005. Navigators with the Elite package offer a DVD entertainment system.
First Generation (1998-2002)
The first Navigators rolled into dealerships in 1997 for the 1998 model year. The first Navigators came with a 230-horsepower 5.4-liter Triton engine and could tow up to 7,700 pounds, a number which has steadily increased to 8,700 pounds in 2020. Some minor exterior upgrades came about in 2001.