2021 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that set it apart from its Ford Expedition counterpart. Designers gave it unique front and rear styling elements, including the Lincoln Embrace lighting system that sequentially illuminated the SUV to welcome its owner. The Navigator also boasted a lattice-type grille insert, illuminated star logo, and full-width taillights, giving it a distinct appearance. The Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Navigator offered a Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a dashboard with mid-century modern styling cues, and a panoramic glass roof.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, which had been a hallmark since its third generation debuted in 2011. The Durango SRT Hellcat model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a unique front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, along with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes. The cabin featured a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The Durango's interior became increasingly premium with higher trim levels, offering options like leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with a single engine choice: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with power sent to the rear wheels or an optional four-wheel drive. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb (with the towing package). It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive. The Navigator's Pro Trailer Backup Assist system made towing easier by allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob. The SUV averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in combined driving. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable with 22-inch wheels.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four different engines: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The V6 produced 293-295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the 5.7-liter V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 392 HEMI V8 generated 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the SRT Hellcat produced 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. The Durango's steering was precise, but the suspension allowed bumps to be felt in the cabin. The SRT models offered SRT Performance Pages for track days, providing information on vehicle performance. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds and felt stable when towing.

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 were exceptionally comfortable, though it took time to find the right settings. 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. The third-row seat provided ample legroom and thigh support, making it comfortable for most passengers. Cargo volumes were class-leading, 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. The longer Navigator L offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, good storage space, and family entertainment options. It came standard with seating for five in two rows, with an optional third row increasing capacity to seven. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with enough room for taller passengers. The third row was more spacious than many competitors, with easy access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Cargo space was about average for its class, functioning as advertised. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing out compared to earlier models.

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 required specific command pathways. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system offered a compelling audio experience. 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.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, with higher trims getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than the previous system and offered greater personalization, connected services, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch. The Durango's family entertainment system included a Blu-ray and DVD player with two high-resolution 9-inch screens. SRT models had unique appearance features, including a "smoke show" start-up animation. The gauge cluster made it difficult to differentiate the exact speed of travel, but the TomTom navigation system was a clear winner with its easy-to-read graphics and quick response.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, rear cross-traffic warning, 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 Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the rollover resistance rating was just three stars with rear-wheel drive. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera as its only active safety feature, along with passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. Many rivals offered these features as standard across most of their lineup. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating. The IIHS had not yet released crash-test ratings for the 2021 Durango.