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The 2025 Lincoln Navigator has been overhauled, with an all-new interior that features a full-width infotainment screen, plus the introduction of the brand’s Black Label treatment — an exclusive trim that pushes the posh (and price) beyond what was previously possible.
While Black Label models have been available in the United States for a decade, Lincoln feels like the time is right to bring this elevated level of luxury and services to Canadian customers.
New Levels of Luxury
The Black Label trim comes in three themes: Invitation (black leather with laser-etched mahogany wood trim) and Enlighten (light beige leather with grey piping and birch wood accents), plus the long wheelbase-exclusive Atmospheric (brown leather and ash wood appliques). Regardless of theme, the Navigator Black Label serves up a rich and inviting experience, resplendent in sumptuous leathers, a calming design, and fine detailing.
Indeed, it does feel special inside, marking a big step up from the outgoing Navigator’s interior. Black Label occupants also enjoy seat heat, ventilation, and massage seats in the first- and second-row captain’s chairs, and a spectacular 28-speaker stereo that this musician gives an enthusiastic two thumbs up.
New Look, Same Essentials
The 2025 Navigator uses the same platform as before, with two lengths to choose from. Fresh sheet metal gives it a clean, modern look that’s enhanced by a new grille with an illuminated badge and light bar that extends into the headlights and ends with a wing-like effect.
The rear end has been cleaned up a bit — the wiper is now hidden behind the spoiler — and features a full-width LED light bar. New for 2025 are available 24-inch wheels that look proportionally correct on this leviathan. (The Navigator’s chief rival, the Cadillac Escalade, got 24-inch alloys for 2025, and one must keep up with the Joneses.)
Suspension engineers tell us they updated the Navigator’s geometry and spent much effort tuning the adaptive suspension to work with these massive wheels that weigh more than 45 kg (99 lb) each. (The standard wheels measure a more modest 22 inches.)
Carrying forward for 2025 is the same powertrain from before: a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 that makes 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. It drives all four wheels through a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission.
Dash-Wide Display
The big news within is the all-new artfully crafted cabin that features Lincoln’s 48-inch panel display that debuted last year in the Nautilus. Lincoln’s intention is to have all relevant information just below the driver’s line of sight, with the mantra being “eyes up and eyes out.” In service of this goal is a flat-top steering wheel that won’t obstruct the driver’s view of the screen that runs just below the windshield.
Get past the initial wow factor of this digital expanse and the user experience works quite well. The graphics are large and crisp, with the left half of the screen devoted to pertinent driver information. An 11.1-inch central touchscreen is the command centre for climate and infotainment, along with an array of physical shortcuts, a large volume knob, and (mostly) obedient voice control.
The Black Label trim features the brand’s signature 30-way adjustable seats, while lesser trims are fitted with 24-way driver and 22-way passenger thrones. In either case, the heated and ventilated front seats will massage you six ways from Sunday.
Yes, there are a few ergonomic foibles, the most egregious being dash vents with no physical controls. Instead, one must call up a dedicated climate control screen and start swiping. It’s annoying, but these powered vents play into the Navigator’s “spa on wheels” mantra.
Riding, Relaxing, Rejuvenating
When not rolling on those stylish 24-inch wheels, a stationary Navigator Black Label can spoil the driver with a selection of so-called “Rejuvenate” themes (waterfall meditation, Aurora Borealis, and elements). When in park with the engine running, each experience runs for five or 10 minutes, sliding the driver’s seat rearward and reclining, while warming slightly and activating the massage settings.
Appropriate visuals fill the centre stack and panoramic display, complemented by tailored ambient lighting, soothing sounds, and a subtle fragrance from a digital scent dispenser that now has seven smells to choose from (sunlight retreat, violet cashmere, mystic forest, ozonic azure, cloud balsam, serene seashore, and twilight embers).
Getting back to those powered vents: the elements theme serves up a gentle breeze that wafts back and forth across your tired being, be that while waiting for the kids at school, taking a break during a long drive, or getting away from your co-workers at lunch. (Lincoln paired with well-known wellness app Calm to create the experiences.)
Luxurious, not Lumbering
As with the previous Navigator, the sense of isolation from the outside world and massive width of the cabin gives the impression one is driving around in a living room, albeit an exceptionally nice one in Black Label guise. You sit high, while sightlines are excellent thanks to the low cowl height.
There’s a hint of that old-time American float in the normal drive mode, and while the ride quality is generally magic-carpet smooth, the 24-inch wheels make themselves known over harsher impacts. The standard 22-inch wheels might smooth the experience out a bit.
A sporty drive mode in a 2,720-kg (5,997-lb) luxury SUV might be a bit of an eye-roller, but activating the setting on some twisty mountain roads really buttoned the Navigator down while sharpening steering and throttle response. It still isn’t exactly athletic, but it makes it feel as if the Navigator has shrunk a size or two.
The 2025 Navigator gets a four-year subscription to BlueCruise 1.4 — the latest version of Lincoln’s semi-autonomous hands-free driving system. On a busy freeway near San Diego, it performed reasonably well, but the system is best suited to open highway driving. New features include automated lane changes that are prompted by a tap of the turn signal when the path is clear, and a camera view of the adjacent lane that’s shown on the 48-inch panoramic display when the signal is activated.
Third-row passengers get plenty of leg- and headroom, plus access to the heated bench is made easy thanks to the power sliding and folding seats in front of it. In the Black Label models, the rearmost row is quilted and comfy for two, but occupants might feel left out with the seats in front featuring ventilation and massage.
The Navigator has a useful split tailgate, and with the $470 tiered cargo divider that can also be configured as a table or seat, it’s ready for a tailgate party. For those into hauling trailers, boats, or horses, the 2025 Navigator can tow 3,946 kg (8,700 lb). The heavy-duty tow package is standard with the Black Label trim and optional with the lesser Reserve.
Final Thoughts
The Louisville, Ky.-built 2025 Lincoln Navigator starts at $127,495 for the Reserve, with the long wheelbase going for $4,000 more. The Navigator Black Label trim is $150,495, while the stretched version is $154,495. The long wheelbase Black Label L starts at $165,394, while the top Atmosphere theme is $3,500 more. The Navigator Reserve is available now, with the Black Label arriving sometime this summer.
