2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design elements, setting it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers added unique front and rear styling, a lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, and full-width taillights. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system welcomed owners with sequential illumination. The Reserve Monochromatic Package, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black, added body-color grille and side mirror enhancements, along with 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Navigator featured mid-century modern styling cues, a panoramic glass roof, and high-quality materials, making it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

In contrast, the 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic, rugged design reminiscent of the old LR4. It featured squared-off edges, a rising roofline, and roundish headlights. The Defender retained some nostalgic elements like step plates and a ladder, though they were more for show than function. The interior was basic and industrial, with cloth seats, exposed screws, and a rubbery finish. The Defender's design was purposeful, focusing on durability and off-road capability rather than luxury. It was a vehicle that inspired adventure, with options like a roof carrier, mudflaps, and a factory matte wrap.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with a single engine option: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering rear-wheel drive as standard and four-wheel drive as an option. The Navigator's towing capacity was impressive, with a maximum of 8,700 pounds for RWD and 8,300 pounds for 4WD. The Pro Trailer Backup Assist system made towing easier by allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob. The Navigator's performance was strong, with a subtle yet aggressive engine note. However, fuel economy was a downside, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop. The SUV's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though it struggled with impact harshness on imperfect roads.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The latter was a mild hybrid, featuring an electric motor-powered turbocharger to eliminate lag. The Defender's off-road performance was exemplary, aided by Terrain Response 2 and adjustable-height suspension. It could tackle steep angles and deep water with ease. On-road, the Defender was quiet and plush, though it handled like an older SUV with slow steering and significant body lean. The eight-speed automatic transmission's sport mode provided aggressive launches and a satisfying engine rasp.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with 30-way Perfect Position front seats that required some time to adjust but provided exceptional comfort. The second row could be configured with either a bench or captain's chairs, and the third row offered class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was also impressive, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet in the standard-length model. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender prioritized durability and functionality over luxury. The interior featured rubber floors and exposed screws, with cloth seats and an optional front jump seat. The Defender 90 could seat up to six people, while the 110 offered an optional third row for seven seats. Cargo space in the two-door 90 was 16 cubic feet, expanding to 58 with the rear seats folded. The four-door 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 with them folded. The Defender's design allowed for easy cleanup and durability, making it ideal for off-road adventures.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive feature, with slow loading times. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. The "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender featured the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous JLR systems. It had two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air updates. The interface was simpler, though some user interface issues remained. The Defender's off-road capabilities were enhanced by front cameras showing the ground under the hood, a rearview mirror doubling as a screen, and various off-road readings. The base Defender 110 came with steel wheels, manual seats, and a basic stereo, but higher trims offered more luxury features like a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and adaptive cruise control.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. 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.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by any U.S. crash testing agency. It came with six airbags, forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitor, and 360-degree cameras as standard. Optional safety features included rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts upon exiting the vehicle.