2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal. It showcased traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, making it equally at home on rugged trails and at upscale venues. The Grand Cherokee's appearance transcended social class, appealing to a diverse range of buyers. Prices ranged from $32,150 for the Laredo to $87,400 for the high-performance Trackhawk. The tested Limited X model, priced at $53,275, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels. However, the interior quality disappointed at higher price points, with an overabundance of hard plastic detracting from the overall experience.

In contrast, the 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from mainstream models like the Ford Expedition. The Navigator's unique styling elements included a lattice-type grille, illuminated Lincoln star logo, and full-width taillights. The new Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. The tested Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,385, included the Luxury and Reserve Monochromatic packages, offering a Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a panoramic glass roof. The Navigator's high-quality materials and mid-century modern styling cues created a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the test vehicle achieved only 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available: a 360-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a 475-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT, and a 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk, which could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system. While the Grand Cherokee excelled off-road, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a single engine choice: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for RWD and 8,300 pounds for 4WD. The Pro Trailer Backup Assist system simplified trailer maneuvering. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, but its fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg, below the EPA's 18 mpg combined rating. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though it struggled with impact harshness on imperfect pavement. Around town, the Navigator felt large, but features like a tight turning radius, parking assist, and numerous camera views improved maneuverability.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 36.3 cubic feet behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. The Limited X trim featured heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests added comfort. Rear passengers, including children, found the backseat comfortable, with adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Interior storage was decent, with a handy tray in the center console and sizable door-panel bins.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, passengers enjoyed ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, part of the optional Luxury Package, were exceptionally comfortable, with power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or captain's chairs, with the latter option including a large center console. Triple-zone climate control and heated rear seats ensured comfort across all three rows. The third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were also class-leading, with the standard-length model offering 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its speed, graphics, and ease of use. However, the Grand Cherokee's ride could make it difficult to accurately select virtual buttons on the 8.4-inch touchscreen display. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan supported up to eight devices. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system, though a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was available. Unique to Jeep's Uconnect was the Off-Road Pages app, providing information for off-roading excursions.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was less impressive, with slow content loading times. However, a new Sync 4 platform was expected to improve this. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, 911 Assist, a Lincoln Way app, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but required specific command pathways. The Reserve's Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, providing a compelling audio experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I, standard on all trim levels, included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Marginal rating for driver protection from the IIHS.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came standard with Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a collection of ADAS features including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, a rear cross-traffic warning system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance operated with refinement. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.