2011 Lincoln Navigator

The 2011 Lincoln Navigator Luxury Large SUVs. The 2011 Lincoln Navigator gives buyers comfortable seats in all three rows, practical cargo space and a long list of high-tech standard features, but an underpowered engine leaves reviewers wanting more.

In a competitive class, the 2011 Lincoln Navigator is simply passed by its rivals. The Navigator is a good choice among Luxury Large SUVs, but offerings from Infiniti, Mercedes, Lexus and Cadillac are just better. Large SUVs like the Navigator are meant to go off road and tow heavy loads, as well as provide a large seating capacity.

Details: Lincoln Navigator
The Navigator was last redesigned in 2006. For 2011, changes to the Navigator are few.
Rear wheel drive is standard, while four wheel drive is a $3,000 option.
Several option packages are available for order; the Elite package include a touch screen DVD-based navigation system, a rear seat DVD entertainment system with an eight inch screen, a power moonroof, and a reverse camera system. The limited edition monochrome package features a unique chrome grille, ebony wood trim, and special interior trimmings, while a Premium Leather seating package is comprised of upgraded quality leather and contrasting stitching.

Exterior
The Navigator's most prominent feature is its grille. Standard capless fuel system
Standard rain-sensing wipers
Standard power liftgate
Standard 18-inch aluminum wheels; 20-inch chrome rims optional
There's a standard power-folding third-row seat.

Power-lowering running boards are standard, too. Interior features include:
Standard Sync voice-activated multimedia system
Standard backup camera
Standard heated second-row bucket seats
Standard Sirius Satellite Radio with 14-speaker audio system
Standard safety features include:
Electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control and trailer sway control
Side-impact airbags for front-seat occupants
Navigator L
Though similar in appearance to the regular Navigator, the long-wheelbase Navigator L is about 15 inches longer and provides 42.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats in place — nearly 25 cubic feet more than the shorter model.

Like the Lincoln Navigator, the Navigator L is powered by a 5.4-liter V-8 that drives a six-speed automatic transmission. Rear- and four-wheel-drive models are offered, but the Navigator L's towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for the rear-wheel-drive model and 8,500 pounds for four-wheel-drive versions are both slightly lower than what the regular Navigator achieves.

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2010 Lincoln Navigator

Power for both 2010 Lincoln Navigator models comes from a 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V-8 engine that drives either two or four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Hauling is second nature to the Navigator, with a maximum tow rating of 9,100 pounds.

Shifting is slick and easy, though, turning low revs at highway speeds to reduce engine noise. Seating is comfortable throughout, even in the oft-compromised third row.

For 2010, the Lincoln Navigator gains Ford's programmable MyKey, added functionality to the Sync system and trailer sway control. The premium leather seats from previous years are now standard.
When the current-generation Lincoln Navigator was unveiled a few years ago, the luxury SUV market was thriving. Lincoln hopes to prove that with the 2010 Navigator.

In its defense, the 2010 Lincoln Navigator is about more than just flashy styling and status. The 2010 Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV that comes in one very well equipped trim level. Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, a power liftgate, power-folding running boards, a rearview-mirror-mounted back-up camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, adjustable pedals, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear auxiliary controls, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power front seats with heating and cooling, driver memory settings, heated and cooled second-row seats, and a heated, power-folding third-row bench. Single-item options include 20-inch chrome wheels, a second row 40/20/40-split bench and the rear-seat entertainment system.
Properly equipped, a rear-wheel-drive Navigator is capable of towing up to 9,000 pounds.

Safety
The 2010 Lincoln Navigator is loaded with numerous standard safety features that include stability control with a rollover sensor, traction control, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags and three-row side curtain airbags. The 2010 Navigator's interior styling is a nod to Lincoln's past, with a retro dual-cowl dash and square gauges. The longer Navigator, thanks to its additional space behind the rear seats, has a total capacity of 128 cubic feet.

The standard Sync voice activation system also scores points for the Navigator; it allows for hands-free operation of mobile phones, iPods and other MP3 players.

The Lincoln Navigator is roomy and luxurious.
The Lincoln Navigator comes in the standard size or a long-wheelbase version called the Navigator L. Any model can seat seven or eight, depending on the seating configuration ordered. The Navigator L is 15 inches longer than the standard version. Navigator is available with either rear-wheel drive (2WD) or electronically engaged four-wheel drive (4WD) that can be driven on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing.

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2011 Lincoln MKX Review

The 2011 Lincoln MKX Luxury Midsize SUVs. The Lincoln MKX’s low sticker price, luxury features and good fuel economy continue to make it one of the best values in its class. That makes the MKX one of the most affordable luxury midsize SUVs. The 2010 MKX’s 18/25 mpg city/highway fuel economy rating is also one of the best in its class, and its cabin comes with plenty of standard luxury features. The Lincoln MKX has a low base price, but you can still find luxury SUVs that cost less. It starts at about $1,200 less than the MKX and matches its excellent 18/25 fuel economy rating. If you want to save even more money, the Cadillac SRX saves about $5,000 as compared to the Lincoln MKX and also matches it fuel economy.
The 2011 Lincoln MKX available in both front-wheel- (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD).

The official fuel economy estimates for the 2011 MKX are 19 city / 26 highway miles per gallon (MPG) with FWD and 17 city / 23 highway with AWD.

The 2011 MKX is equipped with premium painted 18-inch alloy wheels clad with P245/60R18 tires as standard equipment. Our test unit was equipped with the optional 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels wrapped with P245/50R-20 tires.
Interstate Mileage Testing:
Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off/heat on, windows up: 24.4 MPG
The FWD MKX tips the scales at 4,251 pounds.
Highway driving range is acceptable when driven conservatively. The AWD MKX is fitted with a 20 gallon fuel tank, while the FWD MKX gets by with a slightly smaller 19 gallon tank. All MKX’s are designed to run 87 octane regular unleaded fuel.
The MKX is equipped with four wheel anti-lock (ABS) disc brakes, and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control.

We tested the MKX under winter conditions and found its intelligent AWD system to be surefooted and reliable. The MKX’s luxurious cabin won rave reviews from all our passengers. Rear seat heating is optional.
Dual five-way buttons and voice controls keep the driver’s hands on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The relining second row will win plenty of fans, with 39.3 inches of rear seat head room and 39.6 inches of rear seat leg room.

The cargo area provides 32.3 cubic feet of storage with the 60/40 rear seat up and a generous 68.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.
We’ll forgive you for not believing us, but there are signs of life at Lincoln. Now there’s the heavily revised 2011 MKX, a crossover that takes many of those vehicles’ best attributes and stirs in bleeding-edge technology. Baby steps.)

Although the MKX was Lincoln’s first-ever crossover when it launched for 2007, its conservative, heritage-inspired interior and exterior styling—and matching driving dynamics—made it feel dated right from the git-go and failed in any meaningful way to set it apart from its cheaper Ford Edge twin. Having already used the virtually identical MyFord Touch system in the 2011 Edge, we found MyLincoln Touch to be pretty familiar. We also wondered how the controls would function while wearing gloves and managed to test them out with racing gloves—perhaps the only time racing gloves will be worn in an MKX, ever—and, to our surprise, they worked. Expect lots of extra button touches if you live in colder climes.

The driver can also use the right-side thumb controls on the steering wheel to control audio, nav, phone, and climate-control settings via the right LCD. It seems all the bases were covered, which is good because the 2011 Lincoln MKX won’t be available without MyLincoln Touch. The cheap, sparkly plastic that Lincoln loved so much has been banished, as have most sources of interior noise. The MKX is seriously quiet even at speed, the better to hear the optional 14-speaker THX II sound system.

The Lincoln MKX is improved dynamically, although it’s hardly a poor man’s Porsche Cayenne. Even with the 3.7’s higher output, fuel economy remains at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for all-wheel-drive examples; front-wheel-drive models improve on their 2010 city and highway ratings by 1 mpg, now achieving 19/26.
In contrast to the Edge Sport with which it shares its engine, the MKX chassis setup favors luxury over sportiness. That means $39,995 for front-wheel-drive versions and $41,845 for all-wheel-drivers. Options include blind-spot detection, adaptive headlights, adjustable ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, and the aforementioned THX sound system.

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