In addition to a remarkably smooth ride, Lincoln engineers worked devilishly hard to eradicate road and wind noise, and were successful. Although it's impossible to eliminate all such noise in a big, hollow box as it forces its way through the atmosphere, the Navigator is eloquently hushed at highway speeds. Some wind noise is evident from the protruding side mirrors but the expansive view they provide is more than

2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

a fair trade-off. A pleasurable auditory sensation was produced by the heavily muted V8 that propelled my 2,760 kg (6,070 lb), regular length test unit. This silky mill displaces 5.4 litres while generating a stout 300 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm and 365 foot-pounds of torque @ 3,750 rpm- that's a lot of power pulling a lot of weight. Acceleration is certainly adequate but not riveting. Even with its sophisticated 6-speed autobox smartly changing gears, some planning is required before pulling out to pass an 18-wheeler. Despite competent but not inspirational acceleration, Lincoln's skookum SUV is very easy to drive, and drive smoothly. Throttle, braking and steering responses are all nicely weighted, predictable and natural feeling, resulting in smooth starts, stops and direction changes. In fact, the vehicle exhibits operational refinement commensurate with a luxury sedan rather than a truck-based SUV. It's these qualities that make the Navigator such a pleasure to drive or to simply watch the scenery pass from one of its many passenger seats.

But don't let the Navigator's placid disposition disguise its off-road prowess. It boasts nine full inches (228 mm) of ground clearance and is available with 4-wheel-drive grunt, which I'm guessing will comprise the vast majority of Navigators rolling out of Ford's Michigan truck plant. Still,

2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

don't confuse the Navigator with the likes of a Range Rover. The Navigator is not equipped with low-range gearing or the elements of serious off-roading, such as hill decent control and locking differentials. However when it comes to pulling power, the Navigator flexes its muscles with a maximum tow rating of 4,068 kg (8,950 lb) when properly equipped. Whether pulling a boat to the lake or hauling a team to the rink, the Navigator's AdvanceTrak and Roll Stability Control systems will engage wheel-specific braking and engine mediation to restore serenity when a rollover or loss of control is anticipated. Should the unwanted inertia outperform the stability technology, occupants will benefit from a full complement of airbags including the side curtain bags covering all three rows of seating.

Hopefully no Navigator will ever need to deploy its array of inflatables during the many miles of ultra comfortable cruising provided to their lucky owners. I certainly enjoyed my time behind the wheel of this grand flagship. Options available in Canadian-issued Navigators include premium

2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

leather with contrasting seat piping, an overhead rear DVD entertainment unit, THX-certified audio and a voice-activated touch-screen navigation system. Among the multitude of standard-equipment accoutrements are power-folding 60/40-split rear seats and a power-operated tailgate. When hands are full, these "spoils" are truly appreciated. Unfortunately, when it comes to fuel efficiency the only ones spoiled are those with oil company holdings. As expected, 300 horsepower constrained by 2,760 kg (6,070 lb) of weight is a recipe for consumption. According to Ford literature, the 2-wheel-drive Navigator will consume 18 and 13 litres per 100 kilometres of city and highway driving respectively (13 / 18 mpg). Expect slightly less generosity with 4-wheel-drive.

On the financial plus-side, inclusion in Canada of many Navigator options

2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

from the 2006 model year as standard equipment in the 2007 version actually provides purchasers with several thousand dollars more value; put another way- more stuff, less money. Speaking of which, the base MSRP in Canada for the 2007 Navigator is $50,655. The fully loaded 4-wheel-drive tester slid in just under 60K at $59,210. It featured load-leveling rear suspension, power-deploying running boards, 20-inch chrome wheels and all the sweet stuff already mentioned. And "sweet" pretty much sums up the new big and bigger, 2007 Navigators.