I got into the driver's seat and turned on the "Rejuvenate" function. With a single button, the seat reclined back to nearly 180 degrees, and the massage function began working right away. Then a guidance message saying "rest comfortably" played as a waterfall appeared on the dashboard display and a streamside scene unfolded on the center display.
From the speakers came sounds of nature mixing water and birds. If a fragrance is installed, the in-cabin scent can be adjusted in three levels. This was from a test drive of the Lincoln Navigator on the 22nd. Lincoln said it is "the concept of enjoying a spa on wheels."
The car test-driven that day is the fifth-generation model released in Korea last month. The core value Lincoln puts forward for the Navigator is "the ultimate sanctuary." Rejuvenate appears to be a gambit to maximize that value. As the first feature of its kind across both domestic and import brands, it was fresh, and my first impression was that it "would be useful on long drives."
According to Lincoln, U.S. consumer response is said to be hot. It is clearly a different direction from the practicality-first Ford Expedition and the luxury-focused Cadillac Escalade.
Upon entering the cabin, the 48-inch panoramic display perched atop the dashboard drew the eye. It is one of the biggest changes compared with the fourth-generation model.
With this single display, you can check various instrument information such as navigation and speed. The fact that there is no need to lower your head while driving clearly came across as an advantage.
It also stood out that a large number of physical buttons had disappeared. Except for the hazard lights, start, gear selection, and trailer connection buttons, all functions have gone into the 11.1-inch center display.
However, this consolidation was not entirely welcome. Even to change the drive mode, I had to tap the display more than three times, which was virtually difficult to attempt while driving.
Given the large body, there was a function that shows the situation at the lower front or the left and right underside via cameras, but even that could only be viewed by directly selecting the "Deep Conditions" mode on the display.
Compared with competing models that have the vehicle recognize road surface information or nearby cars and automatically bring up the underbody view, or vehicles with a physical button that works with a single press, this was a letdown.
Sitting in the seat, the phrase "ultimate sanctuary" was no exaggeration. The first-row seats found the most comfortable posture with just a few adjustments, thanks to the driver's seat being power-adjustable in 30 directions up, down, left, and right, and the passenger seat in 28 directions.
The seats with Opulence leather felt plush like a leather sofa, and they also came with heating and ventilation. The natural wood trim surrounding the dashboard and center console added a further touch of luxury.
There was nothing to regret even moving to the second row. In addition to heating and ventilation, the massage function can be enjoyed the same as in the first row, and all operations are done by touch on the second-row center display.
When this reporter, 172 centimeters tall, sat in the second row and slid the seat back, there was enough space to stretch out legs. That is thanks to the 3,110-millimeter wheelbase. The third row even comes with a power-reclining function.
As a vehicle that prioritizes comfort, the driving feel itself was very smooth. The Lincoln Navigator released in Korea is a single Black Label trim with a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
Pressing the accelerator, the characteristic V6 vibration traveled to the toes while a low-set engine note was heard. The engine sound is not intrusive.
The accelerator and steering wheel were on the heavy side. Road surface information did not come through much, and in cornering the body tended to settle into a stable posture.
It was also a vehicle that knew how to build speed. On the highway, pressing the accelerator deep brought on uninterrupted acceleration. The V6 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission delivers a maximum output of 446 horsepower and peak torque of 70.5 kilogram-meters.
The Lincoln Navigator has six drive modes in total. You can choose to suit the situation from Normal, the all-wheel-based Normal 4A, the sporty Excite, the efficiency-focused Conserve, Slippery for slick surfaces, and the aforementioned Deep Conditions.
However, the differences by mode were not strongly felt. When I selected Excite mode, there was no change in the steering wheel, and the accelerator response quickened, but I clearly felt the difference on the second attempt. Although the explanations for each mode on the display were shown in Korean, the mode names themselves were only in English, which remained a disappointing point.
Its stopping power was as good as its ability to run. It rained in Seoul that day, and each time I pressed the brake pedal, the strong braking force was clearly felt. Despite a curb weight reaching 2,765 kilograms, it could be brought to a stable stop at the intended spot on wet roads.
Combined fuel economy is 6.8 kilometers per liter, and after driving a 70-kilometer section between Seoul and Yangpyeong, the observed real-world economy was 6.3 kilometers per liter.
The biggest change in the exterior is the front. A light bar across the front cuts through the chrome grille that symbolizes Lincoln, and together with headlamps smaller than the previous model, it leaves a sharp impression despite the hefty size.
The welcome lights that sense the driver approaching and illuminate in sequence from the front to the door handles, and the side steps that pop out quickly the moment you pull the handle were also impressive. The body size measures 5,340 millimeters long, 2,070 millimeters wide, and 1,996 millimeters tall, with little difference from the previous model.
Another exterior change is the split tailgate. The so-called "split gate." The upper and lower sections open independently, and Lincoln explained it is "to enhance a sense of wide opening and loading convenience." The lower gate can withstand up to 227 kilograms, enough for two large adults to perch on.
Trunk capacity is 648.5 liters. Folding the third row increases it to 1,979.4 liters. The price of the fifth-generation Lincoln Navigator, applying the 5% special consumption tax, is 165.1 million won.