2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, its platform mate. The Navigator's unique front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, added a touch of elegance. The lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights were distinctive design elements. The Reserve Monochromatic Package, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black, further enhanced its custom look with body-color grille and side mirror enhancements, and 22-inch black-painted wheels. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, was priced at $92,385, including destination charges.

Inside, the Navigator's Dark Slate leather interior, part of the Luxury Package, featured 30-way Perfect Position front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The dashboard, with mid-century modern styling cues, housed digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls. A panoramic glass roof added natural light, and high-quality materials were used throughout. The overall look and feel of the Navigator made it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

Volkswagen completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, addressing its previous size and price issues. The 2020 Tiguan maintained a stylish and conservatively German design with clean lines and a horizontal grille connecting the headlights. The interior, however, was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic, a departure from Volkswagen's previous interior excellence. The focus seemed to be on electronics, with an optional digital dashboard and a glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system being the highlights.

The Tiguan's interior was simple, with a focus on functionality rather than luxury. The cockpit was plain, with a lack of adventurous design elements. The infotainment system, though, was a standout feature, with a responsive touchscreen and a user-friendly interface. The Tiguan's design was practical, but it lacked the luxurious feel of the Navigator.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, outperforming the Ford Expedition's most powerful version. A 10-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the rear wheels, with an option for four-wheel drive. Lincoln Drive Modes tailored the powertrain to various driving conditions, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the towing package. The Navigator's maximum towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

The Navigator's acceleration was strong, with a subtle yet aggressive engine note. However, fuel economy was a concern, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. The 22-inch wheels and adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable on imperfect pavement. The Navigator felt huge around town, but features like a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views improved maneuverability.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The engine drove either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan's powertrain offered snappy throttle response and minimal turbo lag, but it was only moderately quick, especially when fully loaded. The automatic transmission downshifted smoothly, but highway passing required patience.

The Tiguan's engine was relatively muted, with a deep and refined note at high revs. The cabin was well-insulated from wind noise, though some road noise filtered through on rough surfaces. The Tiguan's handling was impacted by its larger size, with a longer wheelbase making it less nimble. The suspension was soft, ensuring a comfortable ride even on rough roads. The Tiguan's steering firmed up in sport mode, but it was still light, making it less fun to drive compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-5.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers found plenty of room to stretch out. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, part of the Luxury Package, were exceptionally comfortable, though finding the perfect settings took time. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or two captain's chairs, with the latter option including a large center console and audio system controls. Triple-zone climate control ensured comfort across all three rows, and the test vehicle had heated rear seat cushions.

The Navigator's third-row seat provided ample legroom and thigh support, making it comfortable for most passengers. Cargo volumes were 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 a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively. The Navigator's spacious interior and cargo capacity were unmatched among 2020 luxury three-row SUVs.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan's practicality started with its second row of seats, which could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row useful. The third row had enough legroom for shorter adults, and kids might find it cozy. Front-drive Tiguans came with the third row, while AWD models were standard five-seaters, with the third row available as an option. The main issue with the third row was the low cushion position relative to the floor, but it was still roomier than many third rows in larger vehicles.

The Tiguan's split second-row seats folded flat, providing 65.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row collapsed. Two-row Tiguans offered 73.5 cubic feet of cargo space, more than many compact SUVs but slightly less than the Honda CR-V. The Tiguan's wide beam provided plenty of hip and shoulder room in the front seats, and the abundant glass and seating position made it feel roomier than its numbers suggested. The Tiguan's size was either a desirable feature or a demerit, depending on the buyer's comfort with larger vehicles.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was the least impressive piece of technology, taking time to load content. However, it provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, 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 was not as advanced as some competitors.

The Reserve's Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system with three listening profiles, with Stereo being the preferred option. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display. The test vehicle did not have the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, which included dual 10-inch displays, wireless headphones, Slingbox access, Roku media streaming, and compatibility with Apple and Android devices.

Volkswagen's MIB II infotainment system in the 2020 Tiguan was about to be replaced by MIB3, but the current system was already one of the best on the market. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, while SE and higher trims had an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with bright colors, graphics, and a responsive processor. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port, while higher trims had two USB-A ports in the front and one in the second row, with a wireless charging pad in the center console.

VW's Digital Cockpit, available on top SEL trims, was a fully digital instrument panel that could be customized and reconfigured, including a panoramic map display. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot were standard. The Tiguan's infotainment system was user-friendly and offered a smart use of cockpit real estate.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), 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 operated with refinement, and the lane-keeping assistance system was subtle yet effective. The lane-departure warning system produced a vibration in the steering wheel, but it was hard to detect at normal sensitivity. The Navigator's nearly three-ton curb weight made it a safer vehicle in collisions, and it received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, the rollover resistance rating for RWD models was just three stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.

For the 2020 model year, Volkswagen improved the Tiguan’s standard safety package, adding forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert to all models. Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. VW equipped all 2020 Tiguan models with Car-Net, a telematics package connecting the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app, with complimentary features available for five years.

Car-Net offered remote locking and unlocking, status checks, and vehicle location. Navigation-equipped Tiguans could receive real-time parking information and points of interest from an owner’s phone. Car-Net also enabled roadside assistance and geofencing services for teen driver monitoring. The Safe & Secure subscription plan bundled emergency assistance, automatic accident reporting, and antitheft features for $99 per year. The NHTSA had not crash-tested the Tiguan, but the IIHS rated it a Top Safety Pick for SEL Premium models with LED headlights, while most Tiguans had halogen headlights rated poor.