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Most of the time, once a luxury SUV starts to creep up in mileage, its used value really starts to tank, as does its reliability. Many of the ones on the market are sold new with sticker prices reaching $100,000, and oftentimes beyond. Own it for five years, put close to 100,000 miles on it, and you'd be lucky to get a small fraction of that original MSRP back.
However, the Lincoln Navigator has a value-saving trick up its sleeve by using the Ford F-150 pickup's platform. That means it's tougher, more reliable, and more capable than, say, a BMW X7 or a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. By using a truck platform, Lincoln seems to have accidentally created one of the longest-lasting luxury SUVs on the market.
The Navigator Was Built Like A Truck From Day One
We all know the Ford F-150, and many Americans love it, too. For as long as it's been in production, the Lincoln Navigator has quietly utilized the truck's body-on-frame platform. While its sister model, the Ford Expedition, competes with mainstream pickup-truck-based SUVs, the Navigator's portfolio of adversaries is a bit more refined, often using tailored unibody platforms rather than a pickup frame.
The Navigator doesn't just share the F-150's bones, either. Underneath its hood sits a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. It can chuck out up to 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque without missing a beat, which translates into a 0-60 mph time of as little as 5.1 seconds. Its 10-speed automatic transmission is also shared with the F-150, along with its four-wheel drive system and some of its suspension components. '
It goes without saying that the Ford F-150 is built with toughness, durability, and dependability in mind. After all, pickup trucks are bred to work, first and foremost, meaning their construction is much more robust than something like a crossover SUV or a sedan. On top of that, pickups are still built with serviceability in mind, albeit on a much smaller scale than in previous years. It's strange, but the Navigator's most important luxury feature might just be its rough-and-tumble, work-bred construction.
Truck DNA Pays Off With The Navigator
It's one thing to talk a big game; it's another to show that the Navigator's truck-based DNA does actually give it an edge over its competitors. Recently, a study released by iSeeCars found that roughly 2.6% of all Navigators remain on the road in operational condition once they exceed 200,000 miles. These numbers make it the longest-lasting full-size luxury SUV researched in the study.
Reaching 200,000 miles is a respectable milestone for any car, even in the modern era. However, it's important to note that the Navigator's ability to reach such heights isn't the exception. There are numerous examples out there that have far exceeded that 200,000-mile mark, such as a 2017 long-wheelbase "L" model reportedly reaching 310,000 miles with only regular maintenance under its belt.
Reliability
Some folks reading may have stopped listening once we mentioned the Navigator's use of Ford's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. The mill has changed quite a bit since its introduction 16 years ago. Nowadays, the engine is firmly in its second generation, and many of the issues found in the older versions have mostly been ironed out. Not to mention, Ford mechanics are now well-versed in 3.5-liter EcoBoost repair, and the scope of the aftermarket world is gigantic, meaning parts are well-priced. The 10-speed transmission is also known to be reliable, as it's built for heavy-duty use.
According to RepairPal, the Lincoln Navigator has a $1,089-per-year average annual maintenance cost. While this seems high, it's actually slightly below average for the full-size luxury SUV segment, which sits at $1,127 per year. For comparison, the BMW X7 puts up an annual average maintenance cost of $2,042.20 over the first 10 years of its life, according to CarEdge.
Why German Luxury SUVs Struggle To Match The Navigator
While it may not be apparent right away, owning a Lincoln Navigator over something like a BMW X7 or a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class can pay off in the long run, and much of that reason has to do with how the German competitors are actually constructed. When it comes to build quality, all three sport well-screwed-together interiors, a healthy dose of sound-deadening materials, and a huge swath of luxurious amenities packed into each of their cabins.
One of the largest reasons that the Germans can't touch the Navigator when it comes to simplicity and long-term ownership is its pickup truck underpinnings. Both the BMW and Mercedes-Benz use unibody platforms, which are specifically built for luxury SUV use. This means its components are more delicate and more complex than, say, the Navigator's pickup truck frame, or its heavy-duty transmission.
The issue gets worse once the Germans need their components replaced. If you need a pair of front OEM shock absorbers for your BMW X7, you need to be prepared to shell out well over $4,000 for the parts alone, and labor could run you an additional $1,000 to $1,500, depending on the specific service center's shop rates. As for the Navigator, a pair of new, OEM front struts runs about $1,030 with a similar shop time estimate to the BMW.
Using the front suspension as an example, you can begin to grasp the broader scope of the Navigator's down-the-line ownership benefits when pitted against its German competitors. As time creeps along and these models begin to see 100,000 miles or more, the BMW and Mercedes-Benz models will, likely, require something like component life support just to keep all of their complicated gizmos and parts in working order. The much-simpler Navigator, on the other hand, would require far less fiddling to keep in tip-top shape.
Depreciation Comparison
Another aspect of the Lincoln Navigator's value-oriented position within the full-size luxury SUV segment is its depreciation rate. According to CarEdge, the Navigator will lose roughly 60% of its value over the course of five years on the road. A decidedly high amount overall, but for luxury models, it's not actually that bad. If we take a look at the BMW X7's rate of depreciation, it actually comes in a bit higher at 63% over the same time period.
So not only is the Lincoln cheaper to own, but it also gives you more of your hard-earned money back at the end of the line.
The Navigator's Biggest Advantage Is Subtle
Being a Ford product, the Lincoln Navigator gets a leg-up in the luxury market from the get-go. Ford's market reach is extremely vast, and its parts and components catalog is galactically huge. Many Ford models share some of the same parts, too, so a big luxury SUV could, theoretically, use the same switches as something like a small, base-model SUV. This keeps component prices down, saving you money when it comes time for repairs.
The Navigator also benefits hugely from its Ford F-150 underpinnings. If you really need to go off-road or tow a heavy trailer, doing either with something like a BMW X7 or a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class would probably make those with any semblance of mechanical sympathy uncomfortable, simply because those models are more delicate. However, the big-bruiser, truck-based Navigator can take all the bumps, knocks, and heavy tongue weights in stride without skipping a beat, thanks to its blue-collar roots.
If you're currently shopping the used market for a big luxury SUV, the Navi offers you a great deal of value for roughly the same money as its German rivals. Its repairs and parts are cheaper, it can handle more, and it won't need constant meddling to keep it on the road in working order. That sort of dependability is worth its weight in gold for any car, luxury or not.
Ford knows what it's doing, and it's continued to build the Navigator with the F-150 in mind for this long because, hey, it works. And it works better, longer, and more simply than its German counterparts.
Sources: Lincoln, BMW, BMWOfOrlandPark.com, CarEdge.com, RepairPal.com, iSeeCars.com.
