Drive Notes: 2022 Lincoln Navigator Black Label

Welcome to another Drive Notes, where I compile some quick notes on the car I am driving or just returned to the fleet.

Today's vehicle -- the 2022 Lincoln Navigator Black Label.

Without further ado:

• Yes, it's a 2022. Models from 2022 are still in the press fleets, obviously. And I still have some 2022 reviews in my queue. If there is little change from MY to MY, there's no reason not to write about a 2022. I bet there are some on dealer lots still.
• Anyway, I hate to make the easy joke, but I felt like an Uber driver.
• When setting up the driver's seat to fit me, the motor made a very un-luxury-vehicle-like grinding and whirring sound. Way too loud for this price point -- this Navigator cost over $107K.
• Apple CarPlay simply refused to turn on at least twice.
• The materials didn't feel as nice as what Lincoln offers on its other, less expensive utility vehicles.
• The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (440 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque) was smooth and torquey and the highlight of this drivetrain.
• That said, the 10-speed automatic transmission was smooth enough to fade nicely into the background.
• The steering weight/accuracy was a pleasant surprise -- the Navigator felt a bit more athletic than anything this size has a right to be.
• There was plenty of room and comfort, inside, unsurprisingly. It was easy to drop the power third-row seats to get more cargo room. I also found it easy to customize the gauge cluster.
• The ride is just as sublime as one might expect, though never soft.

Overall, the Navigator did a lot of what is expected from a vehicle this size and did it right. But the loud seat motors and Apple CarPlay fumbles annoyed. And the cabin materials, while very nice, felt just a tad dated. When the time comes for the next refresh, Lincoln need only look at its own lineup as the template for success.

[Image: Lincoln]

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