2008 Lincoln Navigator L: Politically Correct Excursion?
I already covered the 2008 Lincoln Navigator a few weeks ago, but I just drove the "L" version and realized this car is more than simply a Cadillac Escalade ESV competitor. It's really (along with the Ford Expedition EL) a replacement for the Excursion. That particular Ford vehicle was lambasted by everyone from environmentalists to safety advocates (not surprising considering the curb weight of more than 7,000 pounds and real-world mileage around 12 mpg).
The Excursion offered some impressive specs with regard to interior volume and cargo capacity, but the Navigator L trumps the last (2005) V8 version of the Excursion in horsepower, maximum towing and fuel mileage specs while being nearly as large inside. It also offers far superior driving dynamics. I remember the first time I drove an Excursion -- "unwieldy to the point of feeling unsafe" is how I would describe it.
For all its sheer mass (6,200 pounds) the Navigator L feels safe (boat-like, but safe). But it does prove the wisdom in letting the Excursion name die while appending some simple letters to less controversial models. No "Exxon Valdez" awards have (yet) surfaced for the Expedition EL, Escalade ESV, Navigator L, Suburban or Yukon XL.
- Posted by
- Karl Brauer August 17, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Cadillac, Ford, Fuel Efficiency, Lincoln
Whoa, a triple negative: "doesn't not feel unsafe". I'm guessing you meant "does not feel unsafe".
Holy Jeez, a triple negative.. I haven't not unheard about one since Weird Al did a mock interview with Eminem.
Don't want to give the green crazies a target - looked what they did to that guy with the Hummer.
Hmmm, my dad has a diesel Excursion he uses to tow his shows cars in their enclosed trailer. The thing's a beast for sure but it's actually not that bad. When the family gets together (7 of us right now) we can all fit comfortably in it. Additionally, when he's not towing 10,000 lbs he gets about 19 mpg with mixed driving. Even towing he stays in the middle teens.
I used to mock it but the efficient diesel matched to its ability to move all of us proves the Excursion was unjustly lambasted. If only more diesels were available in CA...
My father also has a diesel Excursion. He regularly packs it full of training gear and manages upper teens mileage on trips. Ditto blueguy's comments.
In the unlikely event I ever need a vehicle this size, I'll look to the diesels first.
ya - too bad a diesel isn't available in any of these vehicles - both Ford and GM. GM hasn't had a diesel Suburban since the 90's and Ford's died with the Excursion. Even though you can get a 2500 Suburban, you can't get it with a Duramax, and I don't even think that Ford offers an HD Expedition. At least with the Excursion, you had as much towing capacity and payload as a HD F-250...
Maybe they'll make a comeback when both Ford and GM introduce diesels for their half-tons in a couple of years.
Having a diesel Excursion to tow around a car trailer and haul about 7 people is the reason such a vehicle should have existed. The problem arrises with the people who tow around nothing and haul about 2 kids and a Maltese.