Next-gen 2025 Lincoln Navigator revealed: 5 things to know

The iconic full-size SUV from Lincoln enters a new generation for 2025 with some serious tech upgrades, innovative features and modern design updates. While the overall profile is more of an evolution than a complete re-jigger, there are some more angular lines at the back, and the grille gets more refined. Outside of the design, here are the most important things to know about the 2025 Lincoln Navigator.

It gets a split-open liftgate

The idea of a split-open tailgate isn’t new. Probably one of the more familiar vehicles we’ve seen it on is the Land Rover Range Rover, but it’s a nifty feature that allows the top of the lift-gate to open separately from the bottom. So, you kind of have a liftgate and a tailgate. Outside of providing a seat that doesn’t have your butt touching the dirty bumper, we’re not quite sure if there are other benefits, but Lincoln does include an “Open on Approach” feature here, which operates like the smart trunk on Hyundai/Kia/Genesis vehicles or the new Autosense liftgate on the GMC Acadia. But it adds an extra second to the mix, and you have to stand behind the vehicle with the key on your person for 4 seconds before it auto opens.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator gets a new split-open liftgate. (Image courtesy of Lincoln Motor Co.)

Immersive display comes to the 2025 Lincoln Navigator

We first saw the 48-inch panoramic display screen in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, and now it makes its way into the 2025 Lincoln Navigator. This non-touch screen stretches the length of the windshield and includes not only the behind-the-wheel cluster but also things like maps, music and weather. As we experienced it in the Nautilus, we found it more helpful than distracting, and it didn’t impede visibility at all. We’ll be curious to see how it does in the larger Navigator.

It’s got Googly stuff

In addition to the new display, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator also gets Google built-in, dubbed Lincoln Digital Experience (similar to the Ford Digital Experience we saw in the refreshed Ford Explorer). This means it uses Google Maps, you can download apps from the Google Play store, and you’ll have access to the Google Assistant. This will be a subscription-based feature after the free trial expires.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator adopts the 48-inch display that was introduced in the 2024 Nautilus. (Image courtesy of Lincoln Motor Co.)

Turn signal view and other tech

If the 48-inch display didn’t give it away, here’s another spoiler alert: The 2025 Lincoln Navigator is chockfull of new tech. In addition to 14 (!) USB ports, the next-gen SUV will get standard BlueCruise hands-free driving for four years (then it becomes a subscription-based feature), an available 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D premium audio system and (something else borrowed from Kia/Hyundai/Genesis) a turn signal view. Essentially that means when you use your blinker, a camera image of your blind spot will show up in your display.

The powertrain remains unchanged

If it ain’t broke, why break it? The powertrain is so smooth, fast and seamless, the folks at Lincoln left it alone. So, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator will get the same twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, and yep, it still delivers 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel drive is also standard.

The bottom line

This seven- to eight-passenger, three-row SUV has always been the ultimate in luxury, and that seems to ratchet up for the 2025 model year. With new interior color themes on the Black Label and first-class, massaging seats in the second row, the 2025 Lincoln Navigator looks like it’ll be setting new benchmarks. However, it doesn’t go on sale until the spring of 2025, so it’ll likely be a few months before we’ll be able to see this for ourselves. Stay tuned.