Smooth and quiet, the Navigator benefits from a fully independent rear suspension and technology aimed at reducing noise and vibration. However, it is essentially a truck, with a ladder-type box frame and separate body, so it is not as responsive as the new unit-body crossover SUVs such as the Lincoln MKX. The Navigator offers its occupants lots of protection and comes well equipped with safety features, including full-cabin head-protecting airbags, electronic stability control and a rollover protection system.

The styling seems deliberately retrogressive, probably in an effort to re-create the romance of Lincoln's glory days. The grille draws mixed reviews. Those who embrace the styling will find a nice finish inside, with rich wood and leather, and nearly all the features available in luxury sedans.

All that size means the Navigator is a bear to handle in tight corners and exhibits lots of body lean in changes of direction. The independent rear suspension helps the Navigator ride smoothly, though, as smooth as any vehicle of this size. The V8 engine and six-speed transmission combination also works smoothly, though it is outperformed by the powertrains of most competitors.

With the upward trend in gasoline prices, big, luxurious sport-utility vehicles have lost some of their luster as a group. Still, the strengths that made them popular to begin with remain: real space for eight passengers, the towing and load potential of a truck along with the comfort and convenience of an expensive sedan. The Lincoln Navigator shares those strengths at a competitive luxury-class price, and it doesn't even require premium fuel.

The Navigator was redesigning for 2007. For 2008, Lincoln adds more standard equipment. A rearview camera is available for the 2008 Navigator, a feature we highly recommend.