2004 Lincoln Navigator Philadelphia

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2004 Lincoln Navigator Power

With such great handling the Navigator's acceleration performance is perhaps a little lacking. The engine sounds nice, with a throaty roar when you open the throttle, but the Navigator does not accelerate as fast as one might expect. The Navigator has more power and torque than the two-wheel-drive Cadillac Escalade, but less than the more powerful all-wheel-drive Escalade or the Escalade ESV. Still, most owners will be happy with the Navigator's performance, even when it is loaded. The Navigator's V8 has excellent torque, which is really more important to the overall driving experience. It also makes Navigator ideal for towing.

The independent rear suspension keeps the wheels firmly on the ground with no axle tramping over bumps or undulations. Anybody who enjoys driving a European car would be happy with the steering on the Navigator. On the other hand, we can imagine some loyal Lincoln buyers having a little difficulty adapting to a steering system that reacts to a driver's input with precision.

Considering its size, the Lincoln Navigator is remarkably agile. It's easy to manage and actually fun on a twisting, winding highway. There's little body lean and it's possible to drive fairly quickly without upsetting passengers. Power rack-and-pinion steering transforms the Navigator's handling dynamics. Lincoln worked hard on the steering system and the Navigator turns in quickly for corners, moving almost instantly once the steering wheel starts to turn.

2004 Lincoln Navigator Design

The large door mirrors fold in to the body at the touch of a button for tight quarters, such as the entrance to your garage. As before, auxiliary turn signals are incorporated into the lower edge of the mirrors. An approach lamp housed in the mirrors illuminates the ground alongside the vehicle when the key fob unlock button is activated, a nice feature on stormy nights or in dark public garages and especially helpful when you drop something.

Power-retractable running boards are available on all Navigators for 2004. When a door is opened the running boards quietly extend out by four inches to allow easier access to the vehicle. When the doors are closed the running boards automatically retract under the rocker panels. This feature, adapted from luxury RVs, was an auto-industry first when it appeared last year, and to the best of our knowledge it remains unique.

The Lincoln Navigator offers a commanding appearance, but effuses a softer, more sophisticated look than other large SUVs. Navigator was completely restyled for 2003, but the changes were subtle and it takes a reasonably keen eye to distinguish the current model from the 1997-2002 Navigator.

2004 Lincoln Navigator Cabin

One of the Naviagator's neatest features is the power folding mechanism for the third row of seats (included in the Ultimate package). At the press of a button the rear seat folds down to provide a flush floor space for increased cargo carrying capacity. The second row of seats can also be folded down to provide a large cargo area. A power rear tailgate comes with the Ultimate package also; it opens in about 10 seconds and is handy when approaching the Navigator with an armload of groceries.

The third-row seat is actually comfortable for adults. The independent rear suspension introduced on the 2003 model allowed the engineers to lower the floor in the back, making for a more comfortable seating position. The third-row bench seat is split 60/40 and can hold three people. On paper, the Navigator's third row provides slightly more legroom than the GMC Yukon XL or Cadillac Escalade ESV, and significantly more than the Tahoe or Escalade.

All seats are finished in a leather with a milled pebble finish. Front seats are power operated. The two-position memory for the driver's seat also includes the mirrors and the standard power-adjustable pedals. Second-row seats are also buckets, although a bench seat is available. The bench seat is split 40/20/40, and the narrow center section can slide forward 11 inches to position a child seat conveniently close to the driver.

Conclusion

The 2004 Lincoln Navigator combines the towing and hauling capabilities you'd expect from a full-size SUV with the smooth and pleasant driving experience you'd want in a luxury sedan. Its interior is modern and stylish and, thanks to its independent rear suspension, it has third-row seating space comparable to that of the much longer Chevy Suburban and Cadillac Escalade ESV. That should make Navigator exactly the right choice for a large number of buyers.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com