Lincoln says the symmetrical instrument panel was inspired by the twin-cowl design of the 1961 Continental. It works well in the Navigator, enhancing the spaciousness of the interior as it curves up from the wide center console across the top of the instrument pod on one side, and across the glove box on the other. The surface is grained with a pebble texture. American walnut burl trim on the dashboard and door trim looks rich and warms the interior. The center dash and other interior surfaces are finished in a low-luster satin-nickel color that matches the rest of the trim nicely.

The center stack is dominated by a satin-nickel panel that hides the navigation system and audio controls. Closing the panel cleans up the interior nicely, leaving only the climate controls exposed. However, the panel lid is a bit fussy as you can't simply press it down, you have to grasp it between thumb and finger and close it, but it quickly becomes instinctive. At the top of the dash is an elegant analog clock that's easy to set.

The Navigator navigates very well indeed when equipped with the optional navigation system. We found it easy to set destinations and the maps are easy to see on the screen. Setting the volume for voice commands requires going into a menu, however, and discerning the distance to the next turn can be a challenge at speed. And the system is pricey. But we can't imagine purchasing a Navigator without a navigation system, and that's not just because it sounds right. The system is executed well and easy to learn, not true of all such systems. And it quickly recalculated routes through maze of roads in the complex coastal roads of hilly Palos Verdes without making any mistakes.

Finding switches at night is easy. LEDs (120 of them) are used throughout the cabin to illuminate buttons and controls. The label for each control is laser etched into the satin nickel surface so that it appears black in daylight yet illuminates at night with a nice white glow. The driver and front-seat passengers get his and hers controls for the climate system. Passengers in the second row of seats get their own climate controls.

All seats are finished in leather with a milled pebble finish. The power controls are on the sides of the seat and are easy to find and operate. A two-position memory for the driver's seat includes the mirrors and the power-adjustable pedals. The front seats can be heated or cooled and the buttons to perform this feat are easy to find and operate.

The center console is fairly large, but not as convenient as that in the Ford Expedition. Worse, the window switches are located immediately ahead of the center console, which seems less convenient and more distracting than having them on the doors.

The second-row bucket seats are roomy and comfortable. A large center console between the rear bucket seats provides storage for second-row passengers. A second-row bench seat is available to increase the seating capacity from seven to eight. But it's much more than just a bench seat: it's split 40/20/40, with a narrow center section that can slide forward 11 inches to position a child seat conveniently close to the driver or front-seat passenger.

The third-row seat is relatively comfortable, even for adults. The independent rear suspension permits a lower floor in the back, freeing up room for a more comfortable seating position. The third-row bench seat is split 60/40 and can hold three people. On paper, the Navigator's third row provides slightly more legroom than the GMC Yukon XL or Cadillac Escalade ESV, and significantly more than the Tahoe or standard-wheelbase Escalade.

One of the Navigator's neatest features is the power folding mechanism for the third row of seats. At the press of a button the rear seat folds down to provide a flush floor space for increased cargo capacity. The second row of seats can be (manually) folded down to provide a large cargo area, though it's interrupted in the middle by the center console on models with the second-row buckets. We prefer second-row bench seats when transporting dogs or lots of cargo. The power tailgate (that comes with the Ultimate package) opens in about 10 seconds and is handy when approaching the Navigator with an armload of groceries.

The Reverse Sensing System can alert the driver as the Navigator is backed toward an object such as a parked car, a short pole, or a child on a tricycle. Besides being a great safety feature, this system is a big help when parking a large SUV, making the process much easier and often quicker.