Lincoln’s large luxury SUV is entering a new generation for the 2025 model year. If you’re deciding between the new Navigator and one of its competitors, you’re probably wondering exactly what has been added or upgraded for the new version. To help you out, I’ve compiled this guide to what differentiates the 2025 Lincoln Navigator from its predecessor.
First, I want to mention a few major things that are remaining the same since this “new generation” doesn’t have the kinds of fundamental changes you might expect. For instance, the sole engine offering is a carryover, giving the new Navigator the same balance between power and low fuel economy as the old one. The dimensions are also the same, providing a roomy interior but making maneuvering difficult, especially on narrow streets or in tight spaces.
Updated Style
A new look inside and out makes the 2025 Navigator feel fresh, even if more substantive changes are minimal. The exterior restyle is in line with what’s popular in the industry these days, with slim headlights and sleek curves giving the face a more refined personality. A light bar integrated into the grille adds a futuristic touch, complete with an animated welcome sequence.
Two new Black Label themes transform the SUV’s interior. “Enlighten” pairs light beige leather seats with birch wood accents and Espresso carpeting, while “Atmospheric” has a darker colorway, with black flooring, Salt Gray leather seats, and ash wood appliques with Radiant Copper accents. Atmospheric is also the first Black Label theme to affect the exterior of the vehicle, adding exclusive Radiant Copper wheels and other accents. Those wheels, like the available Ebony and Luster Nickel options, are 24 inches, a size that helps the Navigator ride high but can also make its ride quality more harsh.
Modernized Infotainment
Looking at the infotainment system, you’ll see that Lincoln is following another trend: increasing screen sizes dramatically. The 2024 Navigator came with a screen setup that will probably be familiar to most modern drivers, with a 13.2-inch touchscreen in the center of the dash and a digital gauge display behind the wheel. The 2025 model has actually shrunk the central touchscreen slightly (it’s now 11.1 inches) but has more than made up for that by pairing it with a 48-inch panoramic display screen that stretches from the space behind the wheel all the way over to the space in front of the front passenger. The steering wheel has a new flat top and bottom shape to help you see the screen in its new position.
While Google technology like Google Assistant voice commands and access to the Google Play app store is being prominently advertised, unlike GM’s newer models, it isn’t the sole infotainment option onboard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still standard fare. Some of the Google apps can be used during a drive (like navigation directions and music streaming), while others are only allowed when the Navigator is in park. While parked, you can watch videos or play video games on the panoramic screen.
New Comfort and Convenience Features
Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats are now standard for the 2025 model year since the entry-level Premiere trim has been removed from the lineup. The new generation also makes it possible for second-row passengers to enjoy the same level of luxury. Available on the Reserve trim and standard on Black Label models, second-row “Power Tailored Seats” gets you power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and massaging captain’s chairs in the second row.
Convenience features are an important aspect of any luxury vehicle, so it’s no surprise that Lincoln is adding some new ones to the Navigator. The new Lincoln Digital Experience allows multiple drivers to create profiles linked either to a key fob or the Phone as a Key app. These profiles let each driver save their seat, steering wheel, and mirror position settings, as well as their favorite in-vehicle apps.
Step outside and go around to the back of the Navigator, and you’ll find another new convenience feature, dubbed the Lincoln Split Gate. This unique design is basically a cross between the traditional liftgate of an SUV and the traditional tailgate of a pickup truck. The upper three-quarters opens upward, letting you leave the bottom quarter in place to keep cargo from spilling out. This bottom portion can also be lowered, like a tailgate, to give you full access to the cargo area. Not only does the Split Gate open in an interesting way, but it can also open automatically, thanks to Lincoln’s Open on Approach feature.
More Safety Technologies
As high-tech safety and driver assist features have been getting more and more common on non-luxury vehicles, high-end models have had to add more new features to stand out from the pack. The 2025 Navigator is no exception, boasting two new safety features to ring in the next generation. Turn Signal View projects a camera view of the lane you want to merge into on the panoramic screen when your turn signal is engaged. Intersection Assist steps in when you’re trying to turn left, detecting oncoming traffic and stepping in with alerts and automatic braking when it senses danger. Of course, the Navigator continues to offer BlueCruise, the semi-autonomous feature that lets drivers go hands-free on compatible roads and highways. While this feature generally requires a subscription, the first four years come free with purchase.
An SUV Spa
Perhaps the strangest new features on the Navigator are those that are attempting to turn the cabin into a spa. When the SUV is in park, you can activate “Lincoln Rejuvenate” to reduce stress, presumably while on your lunch break at work or perhaps after a particularly rage-inducing experience in traffic. This activates a five or 10-minute experience that reclines the seat while moving the steering wheel up and away. The heat and massage functions in the seat are also activated. Meanwhile, both screens display calming visuals (like a video of a waterfall or the aurora borealis) that are complemented by ambient lighting, and the sound system plays soothing audio to match. The audio-visual experience was created in partnership with the Calm meditation app, so a year-long subscription to Calm is also included with your purchase.
But why stop at just three senses when a fourth one is ripe for the taking? While Lincoln hasn’t figured out how to build a replicator to provide drivers with food on-demand (yet), it has added a “Digital Scent” feature to the 2025 Navigator. While this can presumably be used more generally as an air freshener, it will also play a role in the Rejuvenate experience, helping to make it more, as the marketing execs say, “immersive.”
A Mixed Bag of Fresh Features
Overall, the changes to the 2025 Navigator are mostly surface-level. That means fans of older models will probably like this one too, and those who don’t care for the large SUV’s ride quality or fuel economy are unlikely to be drawn in by the new generation. Still, some of these updates might tip the scales in its favor among luxury SUV shoppers. The ability to add power adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage to the second-row seats can make a big difference for drivers who often have more than one passenger and want everyone (well, almost everyone if the third-row seats are occupied) to be comfortable.
The new panoramic screen is in line with the direction the segment is headed. The Cadillac Escalade now has a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display, while the Jeep Grand Wagoneer has a digital gauge display, main touchscreen, and front passenger display that provide a similar panoramic effect, albeit with a few gaps. The split gate and spa function are more unique, helping the Navigator stand out from the crowd. All in all, while the new model isn’t a giant leap forward, it’s still a solid step that makes the Navigator feel more modern.
