kwilkins Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 I have been reading and viewing a lot of reviews on the Navigator and the comments regarding ride quality are all over the board. Some reviews praise how smooth the ride is and others complain about how bumps and rough roads make the ride unsettled and too rough. I would be purchasing a Back Label and therefore I believe default into having to take the 22 inch wheels. I'm interested to hear what actual owners think about the ride quality of the Navigator and how it compares to other similar vehicles you have owned or cross-shopped prior to purchasing the Navigator. Thanks to all who can shed some light on ride quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 You really shouldn't worry too much about what others say and just go drive it for yourself on the roads you would normally drive on. Ride quality can be somewhat subjective. I will say Ford does a good job managing ride quality on larger wheels. We have 21" wheels on our MKX and the ride is very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo2019 Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 I guess it depends on what you are used to. I'm not a big fan of low profile tires but the wheels that come from the factory are a good compromise for looks and ride comfort. Before I got my 2019 Reserve with all options but the entertainment system, I test drove Infinity QX60, QX80 GMC Acadia Denali and Expedition Platinum. I know the QX60 and Acadia are not full size but the Navigator had a much better ride. I could of got a better deal on the Expedition but the Navigator had a better interior, better ride and Heads up Display (I'm not sure the 30 way seats are a lot more comfortable but the are adjustable!). I did not compare to an Escalade because I did not like the interior for model year 2018. For a nearly 3 ton vehicle and almost a year of driving, I still give the Navigator 5 stars on drive quality . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emilner Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 We traded in a 2016 ESV for a 2019 Nav black label L. The Nav has a much smoother ride than the ESV but the tradeoff is it isn't quite as sporty. It still does have the typical 22" bounce when hitting a rough patch but overall it is quiet, smooth and refined on the road... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlcorbett Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 I believe when compared to the truck competitors like escalade and qx80, it rides pretty favorably. Compared to car based suvs like gls, x7 and range rover, its not as good. I haven't driven none of the competitors but an escalade. After test driving a nav, the nav rides well above the escalade(atleast early builds, the Gm utes have since been retuned). Honestly, its the best ride of any suv ive driven, but there was no "rough" stretch that i drove on. I dnt know about qx80, but seen that its not quite as nice as the nav or expy. I would say go test one if you can and compare. If lincoln offers the air glide which i think they will soon, it will most likely be near the top of the class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCP Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 My view is that the ride in town on rougher roads is too soft so the truck bounces excessively. Sport mode makes the ride better, but then you have the transmission acting aggressively. I would love the option just to stiffen the suspension for in town driving without changing the transmission programming. On the highway, on the other hand, the ride is superb in normal mode. Really amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 On MKX/Nautilus you used to have the option on suspension firmness in both D and S modes. Does that not exist on Navi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCP Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 akirby: That is exactly what I would like, but the Navi only has Normal and Excite drive modes. I'm not fully sure what Excite does, but I know that it affects shifting and I suspect it creates fake engine noise, neither of which I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucelinc Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Kwilkins, the best advice is to drive one, yourself, on all sorts of roads and see if it meets your expectations. Some people like soft and floaty while others like firm and tightly controlled. YOU are the best judge of what YOU like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlcorbett Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 The nav also has an eco mode which softens the suspension even more. I did try this on the hwy and thought it was a bit too much but normal mode is quite nice. Of note, the 2020 nav comes std with ccd now, so the base model will have 20in wheels with the ccd. This should make the ride even better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHB Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 What is CCD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 10 minutes ago, LHB said: What is CCD? Continuously Controlled Damping - computer controlled shocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alx Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 The experience is all over the place because the ride is both very smooth Courtesy of the computer controlled dampening and body motions and .... also very stiff courtesy of the 22” no sidewall to speak of tires. Drive one and decide for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlcorbett Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Depending on your location, its hard to drive one. Ive been wantin to take my wife on a drive but theres no navigator 20 miles from our location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwilkins Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 56 minutes ago, Alx said: The experience is all over the place because the ride is both very smooth Courtesy of the computer controlled dampening and body motions and .... also very stiff courtesy of the 22” no sidewall to speak of tires. Drive one and decide for yourself. I wonder if Lincoln would let me order a Black Label with the 20" wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 5 minutes ago, kwilkins said: I wonder if Lincoln would let me order a Black Label with the 20" wheels. Negative Ghostrider. You might find a dealer willing to do a swap though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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