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).
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.
By shadrach2
on August 17, 2007
06:18 AM
Whoa, a triple negative: "doesn't not feel unsafe". I'm guessing you meant "does not feel unsafe".
By itsallmuscle
on August 17, 2007
07:26 AM
Holy Jeez, a triple negative.. I haven't not unheard about one since Weird Al did a mock interview with Eminem.
By mirth
on August 17, 2007
09:51 AM
Don't want to give the green crazies a target - looked what they did to that guy with the Hummer.
By blueguydotcom
on August 17, 2007
09:54 AM
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...
By ewilfong
on August 17, 2007
01:40 PM
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.
By thebigal
on August 18, 2007
06:45 PM
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.
By jriz
on August 22, 2007
11:51 AM
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.