2006 Lincoln Navigator Trims and Specs

You will indeed be sitting in the lap of luxury if you're driving a 2006 Lincoln Navigator. The Luxury trim with rear-wheel drive was the most basic one you could buy, but that is not to say it wasn't stacked with wonderful features, starting with leather captain's chairs and a pretty interior full of walnut and nickel embellishments.

The powerplant for this year remained the 5.4-liter V8 mated to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. This capable hauler put out 300 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque, for a maximum tow weight of 8,600 pounds. A roof rack came standard, helping to manage cargo when the third-row seat was needed to accommodate a full house of passengers.

Opt for cooled and heated front seats, sunroof, DVD entertainment system, high-intensity headlamps, daytime running lights, and power-deployable running boards. Outdoorsy types would also likely have added the trailer/tow prep package (a tow hitch came standard) and mud guards, while those looking to turn heads probably went for the upgraded chrome wheels.

For some, the term "luxury SUV" is an oxymoron, because luxury is meant for sedans and SUVs were meant for the utility that centers their very name. But there's a time and a place for both luxury and utility, and it could be as simple as what day of the week it happens to be.

The Navigator Luxury 4WD certainly has its creature comforts, but they don't get out of hand as far as certain no-nonsense outdoor types are concerned. A guy who's in a suit and tie all week may need to haul his boat or get through the storm to the ski slopes on the weekends, and he probably won't shrug off that body-cradling leather seat during any of those times. He doesn't even have to think about the vehicle's capabilities if he doesn't want to; he can set the Control Trac 4x4 system to Automatic and let it determine when a torque shift is needed. It also has the traditional dial settings for rear-wheel drive plus 4WD High and Low.

Optional equipment made available on this particular Navigator ranged from the expected sunroof, DVD entertainment system, and navigation system to the unusual, as in power-deployable running boards, which move outward and inward accordingly when doors are opened and closed. Cosmetic options were chrome wheels and a monochromatic Appearance Package.

The Ultimate trim level of the Lincoln Navigator has proven to be more popular, because if you're going to go for it you'd might as well go for it all. For a few thousand more, this trim tacked on additional amenities such as heated and cooled front seats (now nearly an essential item for some pampered motorists), a power liftgate, and a power-folding function for the third-row bench seat.

Ultimate buyers also had the option to add an Elite Package that was not available on the lower-priced Luxury trims. This grouping added chrome wheels, an upgraded audio system/navigation system combo, high-intensity gas-discharged headlamps, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and the unique power-deployable running boards. A heavy-duty towing set-up also came with the package.

The capability of four-wheel drive made this trim truly the Ultimate Lincoln Navigator for 2006. This was especially so since the ControlTrac 4WD system has the traditional two-speed transfer case with settings for 2 High, 4 High, and 4 Low, but the difference is the Automatic setting means it can be left on when driving on dry pavement for attention to safety that the driver doesn't have to sweat over.

But the Ultimate really earned its name because of its eye-popping list of features - this is the only passenger vehicle with power-deployable running boards. And that word power gets a workout in this list, as there are also power-folding side mirrors, a power liftgate, and a power-folding third-row bench seat.

Additional equipment and upgrades could have been added upon ordering. An Elite Package put together for the Ultimate added a navigation system with upgraded audio components, gas-discharged headlamps, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, chrome wheels, and a heavy-duty towing package.