Although its dimensions stop short of the brobdignagian Suburban, the Navigator is a big vehicle. The curb weight of the 4x4 version tops 5500 pounds, which is a lot of mass to move. With mass in mind, we found this vehicle's all-around performance to be a very pleasant surprise. The 5.4-liter V8 gets the Navigator moving without straining, and it thrives on freeway cruising. Our 4x4 tester logged a steady 17 mpg during some extended mountain driving in California--impressive for a vehicle in this size class--and the interior noise levels were lower than any sport-utility in our experience.
Handling and all-around ride quality were also pleasantly surprising. We think the Navigator is the smoothest operator in its class, but it still manages quick maneuvers without excessive rock and roll, and its steering is best in class. Braking performance, with disc brakes and standard ABS, is also remarkable, both for power and resistance to fade.
Our California travels also included a trek through the rocky wastes of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and we were impressed once again with how well this big vehicle handled off-road trundling, particularly when the 4WD system was called on to claw its way up stretches covered with deep, loose sand.
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