2021 Land Rover Defender vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator, sharing its platform with the Ford Expedition, distinguished itself with unique front and rear styling elements and the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, which sequentially illuminated the SUV to welcome its owner. The Navigator featured a lattice-type grille insert mimicking the Lincoln star logo, an illuminated star in the center, fender vents with simulated exposed front door hinges, and full-width taillights. Black roof pillars, except 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 boasted a Dark Slate leather interior with Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position front seats, offering 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 Land Rover Defender echoed the vibe of its predecessors while bringing the SUV into the modern era. It featured half-round LED headlights, a grille with a structural look, flat-topped fenders, fender flares, and a floating roof. The tops of the fenders wore composite cladding with a diamond-plate pattern, and functional vents were located behind the front fenders. The spare tire was mounted on the side-hinged tailgate. Short overhangs front and rear gave the SUV a planted look, and the fit and finish were first-rate. The bold "DEFENDER" nameplate on the front and rear added a tasteful touch.

Inside, the Defender's theme of exposed structure was prominent, with the dash appearing to be held between two horizontal beams and exposed Allen-head bolts securing the door panels. The controls and steering wheel were beefy, and the leather-upholstered seating was both tough and luxurious. A digital instrument panel and a center touchscreen interface were securely mounted between the dash beams. The interior felt authentic, with high-quality materials used throughout, including real metal and leather surfaces.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, 50 more horses and 30 more lb-ft of torque than the most powerful Ford Expedition. 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 specific driving situations, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the optional towing package. The Navigator had a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Acceleration from the twin-turbo V6 was strong, with a subtle engine note. The Navigator averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in combined driving. The SUV's 22-inch wheels and adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness over imperfect pavement, especially in Excite mode. However, body motion control was excellent, lending the Navigator a hint of athleticism. Around town, the Navigator felt huge, but a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views helped with maneuverability. An automatic hold function was useful in heavy traffic.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response were standard, with Terrain Response 2 and locking differentials as options. The Defender had a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum ascent/descent gradient of 45 degrees, with 8.5 inches minimum/11.5 inches maximum ground clearance and a 35.4-inch wading depth.

The 2.0-liter Defender 110 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds, while the 3.0-liter did it in 5.8 seconds. The Defender had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds. The 3.0-liter mild-hybrid powertrain impressed with its driving character, offering a rock-solid and comfortable ride on highways and ease of maneuverability in city driving. The Defender's off-road capabilities were convincing, even though the test vehicle didn't encounter any rocky obstacles.

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 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 an optional center console. 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, unmatched by competitors.

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 redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade was expected to match the Navigator in terms of passenger comfort and cargo space.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender rode on a unibody platform, making extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction and strength. The four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension enhanced both on-road and off-road performance. Independent suspension allowed for various interior configurations, including a jump seat between the front seats and an optional third-row seat in the long-wheelbase 110. The second row was roomy, and the third row offered 20.5 inches of legroom.

Luggage space behind the second row on the 110 was 34-34.6 cubic feet, and 15.6 cubic feet on the 90. The three-door model had 58.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, while the 110 had 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load content, but a new Sync 4 platform was expected to improve this. The system provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, 911 Assist, a Lincoln Way app, 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 Reserve’s Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system with three listening profiles. 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 offered dual 10-inch displays, wireless headphones, Slingbox access, Roku media streaming, and Apple and Android compatibility.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender used Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing remote software updates for 14 individual modules. A WiFi connection was standard, with optional upgrades. The Defender featured the new Pivi Pro system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, with USB and 12-volt outlets throughout the cabin. Multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view, were available for off-roading.

A six-speaker audio system was standard, with upgrades to 10 or 14 speakers plus a subwoofer. Meridian sound systems offered 180 watts, 400 watts, or 700 watts of amplification. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror, replacing the traditional mirror with a camera view, were also available.

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. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability was standard on Reserve trim.

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 had a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the rollover resistance rating for RWD models was just three stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an extensive list of standard safety features. These included a perimeter alarm, front airbags with a passenger seat occupant monitor, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear ISOFIX system for child safety seats, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid.

The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, including hundreds of thousands of miles through harsh climates and conditions. It had front and rear recovery points capable of withstanding up to 10 tons of pull, essential for off-road challenges.