2021 INFINITI QX50 vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was a standout in the luxury SUV market, thanks to its distinctive design elements that set it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. The Navigator featured unique front and rear styling, including a lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system added a welcoming touch, while the monochromatic package offered a custom look with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Navigator exuded luxury with its Dark Slate leather interior, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and a panoramic glass roof that filled the cabin with natural light. The dashboard, with its digital instrumentation and 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, further distinguished the Navigator from its Ford counterpart.

In contrast, the 2021 INFINITI QX50 made its mark in the luxury compact crossover segment with its distinctive design and engineering prowess. The QX50's large honeycomb grille and athletic hood design gave it a sporty appearance, while the unique chrome strip at the rear added character. Inside, the QX50 offered a spacious cabin with ample headroom and legroom, even with the panoramic moonroof. The interior featured soft-touch materials, aluminum trim accents, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The QX50's sliding second-row seats allowed for flexible cargo space, and the optional Cargo package provided additional storage solutions. Overall, the QX50's design and interior features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and practical luxury crossover.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the Ford Expedition's most powerful version by 50 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, and Slippery, to tailor the driving experience. With a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds for four-wheel drive, the Navigator was well-suited for towing tasks. However, its fuel economy was a concern, averaging 16.4 mpg during testing. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable on rough roads.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured a unique VC-Turbo engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This engine constantly adjusted its compression ratio for optimal power and efficiency. Mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the QX50 offered a smooth and quiet driving experience. The CVT included simulated shift points for a more familiar driving feel. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The QX50's drive mode selector allowed drivers to choose between Standard, Sport, Eco, and Personal modes, with Sport mode enhancing responsiveness. While the QX50's powertrain was innovative, its acceleration in Eco mode was sluggish, making it less suitable for city driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample room for passengers in all three rows. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats provided exceptional comfort, though finding the ideal settings required some time. 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 generous, 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 2021 INFINITI QX50, despite being a compact crossover, provided a spacious interior with plenty of hip and shoulder room. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 38.7 inches of legroom, and the sliding second-row seats allowed for flexible cargo space. The cargo area offered 31.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to 64.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The optional Cargo package added practical storage solutions. The QX50's interior was well-equipped with cupholders, storage bins, and charging options, making it a practical choice for families and travelers.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was a weak point, 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" feature allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided an immersive listening 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 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured the InTouch infotainment system with dual display screens, voice recognition, and a suite of connected services. Pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth was seamless, and Apple CarPlay integration was glitch-free. The 16-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system delivered excellent sound quality. The QX50 also included an Around View Monitor with moving-object detection, enhancing parking ease. ProPilot Assist, available on all but the base trim, combined adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, providing a glimpse into autonomous driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with trailer coverage. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability was standard on the Reserve trim. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though its rollover resistance rating was three stars for rear-wheel drive models.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 boasted a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including blind-spot warning, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Lane-departure prevention and blind-spot intervention were standard on all but the base trim. The QX50 received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, while the IIHS awarded it Good ratings for crash protection and a Superior rating for front crash prevention.