2021 Ford Bronco vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and other brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, on which it was based. Designers added unique front and rear styling elements, including the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, which sequentially illuminated the SUV to welcome its owner. The Navigator also boasted a lattice-type grille insert mimicking the Lincoln star logo, illuminated star in the center, fender vents with simulated exposed front door hinges, and full-width taillights. Black roof pillars, except for those framing the windshield, gave the Navigator’s glass a wraparound appearance. The new Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color grille and side mirror enhancements, combined with 22-inch black-painted wheels.

Inside, the Navigator's Dark Slate leather interior, part of the Luxury Package, included Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The dashboard featured mid-century modern styling cues, digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls. A panoramic glass roof bathed the interior in natural light, and high-quality materials were used throughout. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, extra-cost paint, and both the Luxury and Reserve Monochromatic option packages, was priced at $92,385, including the $1,295 destination charge.

The 2021 Ford Bronco drew inspiration from the original 1966 model, embodying a "Retrofuturism" design philosophy that updated the classic look with modern technology and materials. The Bronco featured a single-piece grille flanked by round headlights and bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering. The body sides were flat and simple, accented with applied fender flares, and the SUV came with standard 32-inch tires, with 35-inch tires available in the Sasquatch package. The Bronco's rear design included a full-size spare tire on a rack that swung away for access to the side-hinged half tailgate and flip-up back glass.

The Bronco was available in two-door and four-door configurations, with wheelbases of 100.4 inches and 116.1 inches, respectively. The SUV offered a choice between a black soft-top or a modular removable hardtop, and came in eleven paint colors, including eye-catching options like Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Antimatter Blue. Inside, the Bronco featured a retro-styled dashboard with modern technology, including an 8-inch standard touchscreen (upgradeable to 12 inches) and a digitized cluster. The interior used rugged materials, with heavy use points reinforced with metal and lined with grippy rubber. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the four-door model offering more space.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 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, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb (with the optional towing package). The SUV had a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, though the engine note lacked the rumble of a V8. Fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined.

The Navigator's 22-inch wheels and adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable over imperfect pavement, especially in Excite mode. The SUV felt huge around town, but a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views helped with maneuverability. An automatic hold function made driving in heavy traffic easier.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine choices: a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive.

On-road, the Bronco drove like an off-road truck, with the 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package producing a noisy, somewhat wiggly ride. The 2.7-liter engine and 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery, with an eagerness to downshift for passing. Off-road, the Bronco excelled, handling various terrain conditions with ease. The SUV felt balanced and sure-footed, with excellent traction and articulation, making it a great off-roader for both novices and experienced drivers.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, though available power running boards helped. Inside, the 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, though finding the right 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 with audio controls. Triple-zone climate control ensured comfort across all three rows, and the test vehicle had heated rear seat cushions. The third-row seat provided ample legroom and thigh support, making it comfortable for most passengers.

Cargo space in the Navigator was 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 in the standard-length model. The longer Navigator L offered 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively. The upcoming 2021 Cadillac Escalade was expected to match the Navigator in terms of passenger comfort and cargo space.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's designers focused on modularity, making the doors removable and frameless, with dedicated protective storage bags and integrated grip handles. The doors could be stored in the cargo hold, and the electrical connection was a simple plug. The fenders, bumpers, and one-piece front grille were also removable for easy repair and replacement. The Bronco featured trail sights on the hood for managing roof-mounted cargo, and the interior included switches for suspension settings and auxiliary equipment.

Inside, the Bronco's center stack housed buttons for differential, sway-bar, and other suspension settings, while the overhead console had toggle switches for auxiliary equipment. The interior used rugged materials, with reinforced heavy use points and stretchy mesh door pockets. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the four-door model offering more space.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load content, though 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, 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, though it required specific command pathways. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience, with Stereo being the preferred listening profile. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle did not have the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the latest SYNC 4 infotainment interface with enhanced voice recognition. The standard 8-inch touchscreen could be upgraded to a 12-inch screen with the High Package. The Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated touchscreen navigation, and a wireless device charging pad. Push-button start was standard, with proximity key entry available in higher trims. The G.O.A.T. system (Go Over Any Terrain) offered up to seven drive modes, making the Bronco suitable for various terrains.

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, 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 and lane-keeping assistance operated with refinement, though the lane-departure warning system's vibration was hard to detect. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the rear-wheel-drive model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's safety features were packaged by trim level. The Base model included airbags, while the Big Bend and Black Diamond trims could add the Mid Package, which included a reverse sensing system, Ford Co-Pilot 360 with pre-collision assist, blind-spot information system, lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps, and rear-view camera with backup assist grid lines. The High Package, available on higher trims, added a 360-degree camera, forward-sensing system, and side-view mirror LED approach lamps. The Bronco's side curtain airbags worked with sensors to deploy appropriately in off-roading situations. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had released crash-test ratings for the 2021 Bronco.