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Photography by Camille Lizama

I’ve always been an SUV girl, and for many reasons. The huge amount of space, how high you’re lifted off the ground (an important factor when you’re 5’5’’) and the safety during the North’s never-ending winters are just a few reasons why they reign supreme in my mind. When I got my hands on the all-new 2018 Lincoln Navigator from the shiny new Morrie’s West End Lincoln in St. Louis Park, I couldn’t wait to drive around the ultimate SUV for a day.

My first stop was, of course, for my daily dose of coffee. I stopped by French bistro Bellecour before hitting the office. I love downtown Wayzata, but there’s one downside: the parallel parking. Thankfully, the Navigator has a 360-degree camera and enhanced active park assistance. The SUV also has ultrasonic sensors to locate available spots, and it can even steer itself into place. Plus the 360-degree camera includes front, rear and side views — blind spots no more! The infotainment system displays the crystal-clear views thanks to the front and rear camera washers that keep the lenses clean. Who would have known my best parallel-park job would be in the biggest SUV I’ve ever driven? Coffee in hand, I was ready to hit the office.

After work, I loaded up my backpack and workout bag and headed out for my endorphin boost of choice, the Bar Method. There’s almost always traffic from the Artful Living office in the North Loop to the new Edina workout studio, especially during rush hour. Luckily for me, the Navigator has a great adaptive cruise control feature with stop-and-go capability to help drivers navigate even the busiest traffic. When the SUV is in this mode, radar scans the road ahead to let you know when you’re approaching slower traffic. The stop-and-go feature brings the vehicle to a complete stop then starts back up as traffic begins moving again.

After class, it was time to pull some items from the Galleria for a photo shoot. I opted for valet, and thanks to the Navigator’s personal profiles, it had my seat, mirror and pedal adjustments as well as my audio and climate-control preferences ready to go as I approached with my fob — no need to readjust when I got back to the vehicle with my bags. The Navigator’s cargo space can fit pretty much anything I could ever think of transporting, but if the back storage area isn’t enough for you, the PowerFold second- and third-row seats can fold down to create more space. The built-in luxuries of the Lincoln Navigator make work and errands effortless. I’ll drive this beast any day.

The Deets

•  Starting at $72,055
•  EPA-estimated 16 city/23 highway MPG
•  Seating for eight
•  Twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter engine
•  10-speed transmission
•  Adaptive suspension
•  8,700 pounds towing capability

Drive Your Own

Morrie’s West End Lincoln
6475 Wayzata Blvd.
St. Louis Park
952-449-2200

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