The Lincoln Navigator does 15.9 mpg combined (13.8 city, 19.6 highway), which works out to about $2,415 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.5L 6-cyl does 18.2 mpg while 5.4L 8-cyl does 14.1 — a difference of $613 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Lincoln Navigator engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lincoln Navigator ranges from 18.2 down to 14.1 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $613 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 15.9 / 22.3 | 2015–2027 | $2,110 | |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 12.2 / 17.5 | 1998–2014 | $2,723 |
What that actually costs
The Lincoln Navigator burns a gallon every 15.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 755 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.201 |
| Fuel per year | $2,415 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,075 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$30 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,290 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lincoln Navigator gives up 5.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 19.6 out there against 13.8 in town, a 42% drop worth $824 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 13.8 mpg | $2,783 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 19.6 mpg | $1,959 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.8 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Navigator changed over the years
The Navigator peaked in 2023 at 19 mpg (17 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2001 at 12 — 7 mpg apart, or $1,179 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 18. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2026 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2025 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2024 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2023 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2022 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2021 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2020 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2019 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2018 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2017 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2016 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2015 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2014 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2013 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2012 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2011 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2010 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2009 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2008 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2007 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2006 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2005 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2004 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 11 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2002 | 11 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2001 | 11 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2000 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1999 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1998 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 30 EPA ratings of the Lincoln Navigator — 2 engines across 1998–2027. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $4,290. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lincoln Navigator get?
15.9 mpg combined on average — 13.8 in the city and 19.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1998–2027.
How much does a Lincoln Navigator cost in fuel per year?
About $2,415 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,075 over five years, or 0.201 dollars a mile.
Which Navigator engine is the most economical?
The 3.5L 6-cyl at 18.2 mpg, against 14.1 for the 5.4L 8-cyl — a difference of about $613 a year.
Is the Navigator good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Navigator figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Lincoln Navigator is $4,290 against the $2,415 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 19 and 12 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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