Lincoln: American Luxury From Ford

A trend at once shocking and not, Lincoln no longer sells sedans in America, land of the SUV. Storied nameplates, from Town Car to Continental, are no more, to the chagrin of livery professionals and coachbuilders. A sign of the times, the SUV and the crossover reign supreme in America, a place where no one is going to miss the Lincoln MKZ or the ill-fated 6-cylinder Lincoln LS 5-speed. Ford now offers just four luxury vehicles from Lincoln, no longer offering the Mercury brand -- though many Fords themselves are both quite luxurious and expensive, such as the $84,000 Ford Expedition Platinum Max. If you miss big and cushy American sedans, fear not, because Lincoln still has what you need, just in SUV form.

Nautilus

The mid-range 2023 Nautilus has what you need if you’re looking for a land barge, offered in front or all wheel drive and turbo-four (250 hp) or turbo-six cylinder (335 hp).  Starting at $47,325 msrp, it seats five with a stunning and luxurious interior.  A handsome option on the Nautilus is the ebony leather interior, and even the outgoing model year is both modern and smart looking both inside and out. Venetian leather is standard on the range-topping $67,245 Black Label, while the Reserve, which starts at $53,535, comes with Weir Deepsoft leather trimmed seats; the entry level Nautilus has Lincoln “Soft Touch” leatherette.

The new Nautilus is the first all-new Lincoln in a number of years, with a beautiful digital display that spans the length of the dashboard, bringing driving information, navigation, and your own content into one place. Optional heated and ventilated front seats will offer 24 different ways to adjust, and also offer optional “Active Motion” massaging. The 2024 Nautilus Premier starts at $50,415 msrp, and prices climb up to $74,465 for the range-topping Black Label.

Corsair

If you’re on a bit more budget, the Lincoln Corsair is your Ford luxury ride of choice, starting at $38,730 msrp.  Smaller than the Nautilus, the Corsair comes with standard power liftgate, while leather seating surfaces don’t start until you check the box for the $43,115 msrp Reserve trim. Furthermore, the Corsair offers a red interior option, in addition to requisite gray, tan, and black, which is a classy rarity in this tier. As with many GM luxury vehicles, Lincoln’s “Auto Air Refresh” ensures clean air to make breathing easy inside. 250-hp is standard with the 2.0L turbocharged motor, and an optional plug in hybrid offers 266-hp combined on the range-topping Grand Touring ($53,925 msrp). Collection III option package on the Reserve adds a 14 speaker stereo from Revel, Lincoln’s “BlueCruise 1.2” self-driving cruise control, and a Heads Up Display.

Aviator

Due for a facelift coming for the 2024 model year, the 2023 Aviator is still the only Aviator model listed on Lincoln’s website, and it still manages to look very smart for a baby-Navigator that debuted in 2020. A twin turbo V6 with a whopping 400 horsepower is more than enough power, companied to a ten speed automatic; an optional hybrid drivetrain on the top of the line Grand Touring rounds out 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, allowing for about 18 miles in EV mode. Rear or all wheel drive are available, as are six or seven seat configurations. Starting at $53,350, the Aviator doesn’t cost too much more than the Nautilus for its greatly increased size, getting up to $59,005 msrp for Reserve trim which adds a panoramic roof, leather seats, and more. Black Label trims get very pricey, starting at $80,725, up to $90,280 for the Black Label Grand Touring.

Lincoln’s flagship has been the Navigator for some time, and it starts at $79,725 msrp with seating for up to eight.  Beating a different drum than its counterpart Cadillac Escalade, the Navigator offers a more curvaceous look and is slightly less in-your-face than the square-jawed Escalade.  A serene interior offers a quiet ride, and the Navigator L trim is the Ford-counterpart to Suburban-based long-wheelbase Escalades, starting at a whopping $94,965. Not to be outdone by itself, the Navigator Black Label L version starts at $112,300 with higher quality interior materials and different trims.  The “phone as a key” option is the modern approach to Ford’s keypad entry system from the 90s, and you can then also use your smartphone as the key to start the vehicle.  The Navigator has ground lights and power running boards which descend to make getting in and out both easy-peasy as well as a spectacle at night.  Sound dampening technology with active noise control and acoustic-laminated windows make for a quiet and noise-free ride. The Reserve trim adds heated and ventilated front leather seats (leather is not standard on the Navigator!), heads up display, and starts at $95,325 msrp.

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