Lincoln Navigator: Mobile Wellness Retreat?
Lincoln
The Lincoln Navigator promises a sanctuary experience. We put it to the test.
What began as a three-day stretch that threatened to wear me out ended with mind and body feeling rejuvenated.
It started with a 6am Tuesday departure up the 405 freeway from Orange County, through the L.A. morning rush, and along the winding Antelope Valley Freeway to Willow Springs for a date with Singer.
After squeezing into a go kart for a few heats, I got tossed around the track in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4RS Clubsport. (I just hope there’s no footage of me trying to get in and out of the roll cage.)
Three hours and 130 miles later saw me back in O.C. in time for dinner and a short night of sleep before a 5am departure the next morning.
Destination: Las Vegas, to pick up New York buddy, JD, from Harry Reid International and make our 1pm tee time in the dry desert wind at Serket.
The next morning? A 6am tee time at Las Vegas International, followed by a long haul back to O.C. in time for my son’s birthday dinner.
All told: 72 hours, 36 holes, just shy of a thousand miles behind the wheel, and one happy 15 year-old.
Sanctuary on Wheels
And yet by the end of the whirlwind week, I feel, somehow, restored.
Part of this is owed, admittedly, to all the fun I had. But I think it has more to do with Lincoln’s so-called Perfect Position seats, which offer 24-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage. I enjoyed feeling hugged and massaged mile after mile, and at a constant temperature that Goldilocks herself would have approved of—just right.
The model I had was equipped with Rejuvenate, a multisensory interior experience that uses lighting, scent diffusers, sound, and a panoramic pillar-to-pillar 48-inch display that transport you to the beach or forest or other escape of your choosing.
The seats recline, the massage turns on, and a gentle voice guides you through a five or ten minute relaxation session.
Lincoln
Capable SUV
Anyone who has never made the drive to Vegas will be forgiven for thinking that it’s all flat desert. In fact, there are several 4,000+ foot climbs along the highly-trafficked Interstate 15.
The Navigator’s size provided plenty of confidence against the many semis that sometimes sway in the high desert winds. With 432 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. torque from a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6, the SUV accelerated with ease up and over mountain passes, despite pushing 6,000 pounds.
When my eyes got tired, I relied on BlueCruise, a hands-free driver assistance feature that takes a lot of the stress out of highway driving. And, despite the dread at the pump these days, the 17.5 mpg I averaged was not too bad given the size and power of the Navigator.
A telling stat: This was the first time I made the drive without stopping once along the 280-mile route for gas or a restroom.
Lincoln
Plush Roadtrip
As tested, the Lincoln Black Label Navigator approached $130,000, with the Atmospheric Theme, Chroma Caviar Dark Gray Metallic paint, 24” Radiant Copper aluminum wheels, and the wonderful Rejuvenation feature. It was also equipped with a 28-speaker Revel® Ultima 3D Audio System, which might just be the best in the business.
It’s never easy coming home from a retreat. It’s just as hard giving back the keys to one.
For more on the Lincoln Navigator, visit https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-suvs/navigator/