[4] A smaller, unibody Grand Cherokee (ZJ) was induced during 1992 that offered new luxury equipment and class-exclusive features.

The Lincoln Navigator was launched on July 1, 1997, for the 1998 model year, with the first vehicle rolling off the assembly line on May 14, 1997.

Using the same 230 hp 5.4L Triton V8 as the Expedition/F-150 paired with the 4-speed 4R100 automatic transmission, the 1998 Lincoln Navigator came with a towing capacity of 7,700 lb (3,493 kg).

[10] During 1999, Lincoln would fit two different engines in the Navigator in an effort to better match full-size SUVs from General Motors.

To make for a quieter interior over the Expedition and Ford F-Series, the Navigator made greater use of sound deadening materials and higher-quality carpeting.

In 1999, alongside the addition of the InTech V8, power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals were added; the previously optional 17-inch wheels became standard.

For 2000, the fender-mounted radio antenna was integrated into the right-rear window, while the interior received Nudo leather seating surfaces.

The redesign featured a thoroughly revised exterior, the first since the Navigator's launch, with only the front doors and roof panel unchanged from the previous generation.

Inside the Navigator was an all-new instrument panel and dashboard area which, significantly, was not shared with the Expedition.

Adding to the upscale interior design further were white LEDs, 120 in all, which provided backlighting for controls and switches.

Additionally, to direct attention to the high-quality satin nickel-faced analog clock mounted in the dashboard, an articulating door is present to conceal the radio head unit and optional satellite navigation system when they are not in use.

Like the redesigned 2003 Expedition (U222), the Navigator benefited from a reworked chassis, new rack-and-pinion steering, and an all-new independent rear suspension (IRS), which brought better handling and ride comfort.

The Navigator continued to benefit from a load-leveling air suspension but it now lowered the vehicle by an inch when stopped in the interest of easing entry and exit.

Unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006, the Navigator featured its most distinctive styling update since its introduction, with new front and rear fascias and side cladding.

In front was a split upper and lower chrome grille with integrated fog lights resembling those of classic Lincolns like the 1946–1948 Continental, along with a more complex headlight design and a more prominent "power dome" hood.

The interior featured an updated dashboard and instrument panel with an extensive use of rectangular shapes, such as in the gauges, as well as greater use of real wood and satin nickel accents.

The independent rear suspension was replaced with a five-link IRS design to improve handling and ride quality.

In spite of this, thanks to an improved frame, the Navigator's towing capacity increased for 2007, approaching 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) in two-wheel drive models.

Navigator four-wheel drives were demoted to a light-duty one-speed single range transfer case which lacks low-range gearing.

The rearview camera that was new for 2008 was now standard, as were heated second row seats, Front Park Assist, a capless fuel filler, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and Lincoln SYNC.

[31] However, hours after the leaks were made public, Lincoln held a press event in Detroit for the vehicle[32] and revealed the updated Navigator earlier than expected.

However, it now featured an updated front grille with the rear tailgate lights bearing a resemblance to the Dodge Durango.

The EcoBoost V6 was the only engine offered for the 2015 model year, making 380 hp (283 kW; 385 PS) and 460 lb⋅ft (624 N⋅m) of torque.

Entering production with only minor differences from the Lincoln Navigator concept vehicle shown at the 2016 New York Auto Show (no inclusion of the gullwing doors and stair-style running boards, used largely for display purposes[42]).

While sharing its roofline and side doors with the Ford Expedition, in the style of Range Rovers, the B, C, and D-pillars are blacked out for a "floating roof" effect.

Nearly 200 pounds (91 kg) lighter than the previous generation, the fourth-generation Navigator is physically larger than its predecessor, with the standard-wheelbase configuration gaining three inches in wheelbase, while the long-wheelbase L gaining nearly an inch (becoming the longest-wheelbase Lincoln ever produced excluding the Mark LT pickup).

For the first time in the model line, the fourth-generation Navigator offers a head-up display along with a 12-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster.

[43] In addition to other trim changes for the fourth generation, the Black Label series became available for the first time on the Navigator.

[44] NHTSA crash test ratings (2020):[45][46] The fifth generation Navigator was revealed on August 15, 2024 with sales set to commence in the first half of 2025.

The interior features Lincoln Digital Experience user interface with a 48" full-width display spanning across the top of the dashboard with Google built-in.