'98 Lincoln Navigator - long-Term Wrap-up - American SUV

Riding the coattails of the seemingly unstoppable sport/utility craze, Lincoln made a bold move by adapting Ford's successful full-size Expedition to the luxury division for '98. In '99, the Navigator pushed Lincoln annual sales beyond Cadillac for the first time in years, and the heated sales race inspired General Motors to hastily affix a crested-wreath badge to the premium GMC Yukon Denali.

The formula for the Navigator's popularity was to transform the mainstream Expedition into a high-end vehicle with prerequisite Lincoln attributes and a significant styling update. Package in the "Lincoln Commitment" four-year warranty, roadside assistance, and service loaner program, and the Navigator seemed poised for success.

We ordered a four-wheel-drive Navigator to test the leather-lined behemoth for a year to get to know first-hand what the fuss was all about. Building on a $42,660 base price, we were able to assemble a healthy list of options and still keep the price under $46K. For interior comfort, we added auxiliary climate controls ($705), premium 290-watt audio system ($355), CD changer ($595), and electrochromatic rearview mirror ($110). For sheer functionality, we ordered a 17-inch all-terrain tire upgrade ($305) and skidplate package ($105). And for Al Gore and CARB, we absorbed a mandatory California emissions system for $170.

This may seem like unusual order-sheet restraint for us, but the Navigator comes with so many standard features, there's little room to heap goodies and additional cost onto it. Beyond basic power features and air conditioning, the Navigator offers true standard luxury features such as leather upholstery, remote keyless entry, passive anti-theft system, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, aluminum wheels, load-leveling air suspension, real wood trim, illuminated running boards, heated mirrors, and so on. Welcome to sport/ute high society.

At first glance, the Navigator appears to be an Expedition washed in contact cement and rolled through the J.C. Whitney truck accessories warehouse. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the Lincoln shares little sheetmetal with its more plebeian sibling. Skeptics take note: the hood, prison-cell-door-sized chrome grille, front fenders, front fascia and bumper, reflector headlamps, wheel arch moldings, roof rack, door handles, rear hatch, and taillamps are all Lincoln-specific. The result still looks like a tarted-up Expedition to us, but the snazzy appearance was the primary factor in surveyed owners' purchase.

An affluent group, more than 50 Percent of respondents reported household incomes above $140,000. A combination of business professionals and retirees, financing owners shouldered an average $813 monthly payment with 11.2 percent choosing to lease. The Navigator proved effective in keeping current owners within the brand and conquesting from others, as 36.7 percent of our group were prior Lincoln customers and 23.3 percent graduated from the ranks of Ford sport/ute ownership. Not surprisingly, the Ford Expedition was the most popular alternative, trailed by the Chevrolet Suburban, Town Car, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Toyota Land Cruiser, respectively.