2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier trim, equipped with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive (AWD), a power panoramic sunroof, and a Confidence and Convenience II option package, had a price tag of $40,040, including the $1,195 destination charge. Despite its high cost, Chevrolet factored in expected rebates and incentives, such as a $4,500 discount at the time. The Equinox Premier boasted a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing. Inside, the Jet Black and Brandy leather interior, panoramic glass sunroof, and polished metallic accents gave it an upscale look, though the presence of hard and shiny plastic detracted from the overall feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded elegance and understatement despite its three-ton weight and 22-inch wheels. The Navigator's design featured simple rectilinear shapes, body-color grille, and a few chrome accents. The Pristine White model with a white-painted grille, black wheels, and illuminated Lincoln logo was particularly striking during winter tests. The interior impressed with seven color palettes, layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. Materials were high-quality, and panel gaps were tight, with Black Label trims offering even more luxurious textures and softer leather.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided adequate performance, with an AWD rental averaging 24.3 mpg, below the EPA's 28 mpg combined rating. The optional 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine delivered 252 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered lively acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, though it averaged 22.1 mpg, less than the EPA's 24 mpg combined rating. Both versions had firm ride qualities and more road and wind noise than desirable, with the Premier's 19-inch wheels providing a more athletic feel on winding roads.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbo V6 engine from the Ford Raptor, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator felt sprightly and responsive, with a 4WD system that switched smoothly between RWD and 4WD High. The Navigator's towing capacity was impressive, at 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. Fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, matching the EPA's 17-mpg combined rating. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a less supple ride compared to competitors, with occasional bumps shaking the structure. The steering and brakes lacked the precision and control of the Cadillac Escalade, but the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a refined and powerful highway cruiser.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered comfortable seating with cloth upholstery in the LS trim and leather in the Premier trim. The Premier trim included an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. Cargo volume measured 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The cabin featured ample storage, including a large center console storage bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator provided ample space for six adults, with a possible total of eight passengers with an optional bench seat. The boxy shape allowed for generous cargo space, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more storage. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, a convenient feature for loading. The Navigator Reserve included heated rear second-row seats and a three-zone climate system, though it lacked side window shades and electrically reclining second-row seats. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with large windows and a high driving position providing excellent visibility.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays, Bluetooth pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Premier trim featured a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system, with intuitive and easy-to-use technology. Additional features included wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's 10-inch touchscreen felt small compared to newer systems, with lower resolution cameras and no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. The software was intuitive, with a unique Lincoln interface, though it was slightly slow in reaction. Voice recognition was fast and accurate, but there were no onboard apps or wireless software updates. The Navigator included 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connections, with beautiful animations on the instrument panel when switching drive modes.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it a safe SUV.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the NHTSA, with four stars for rollover resistance in 4WD models and three stars in RWD models. The IIHS had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator included standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional, though the Navigator's self-steering and lane-tracking capabilities were not as advanced as competitors.