2021 Nissan Murano vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, distinguished by its unique design elements that set it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers went to great lengths to give the Navigator a distinct identity, featuring exclusive front and rear styling, a signature lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, and full-width taillights. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system added a touch of sophistication, welcoming owners with a sequential illumination. The Navigator's interior was equally impressive, with a Dark Slate leather interior, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and a dashboard with mid-century modern styling cues. The panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials further enhanced the luxurious feel, making the Navigator a true flagship SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano had a more conservative design approach, with its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end blending into the mainstream. The interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with a focus on ease of use. The Murano's cabin featured a traditional layout with controls conveniently placed, minimizing the learning curve for drivers. While it lacked the opulence of the Navigator, the Murano excelled in providing a comfortable and user-friendly environment, making it an ideal choice for commutes and road trips.

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. A 10-speed automatic transmission managed power delivery, with rear-wheel drive as standard and four-wheel drive available. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, and Slippery, tailoring the driving experience to various conditions. With a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for RWD and 8,300 pounds for 4WD, the Navigator was a capable towing vehicle. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 16.4 mpg during testing. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though it struggled with impact harshness on rough roads.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the Murano's engine offered strong low-speed acceleration, the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano prioritized comfort, with a refined ride that absorbed bumps and handled corners well. Its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many midsize and compact SUVs. The Murano excelled as a commuter and road trip vehicle, offering a smooth and comfortable driving experience.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious and luxurious interior, with ample room for passengers to stretch out. The test vehicle featured 30-way Perfect Position front seats, which required some time to adjust but provided exceptional comfort. The second row offered a choice between a bench or captain's chairs, with the latter option including a large center console. The Navigator's third-row seat was surprisingly comfortable, providing class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was also 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. The longer Navigator L model offered even more cargo capacity.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, while not as spacious as the Navigator, provided a practical and comfortable interior. It offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While other two-row SUVs offered more cargo space, the Murano made up for it with ease of use and thoughtful design. The Murano's focus on two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom for passengers, with partial reclining functionality in the second row.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive feature, with slow loading times. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The "Phone As A Key" technology allowed drivers to use their smartphones as vehicle keys. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided an excellent listening experience, and additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a user-friendly menu layout and hard buttons for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with available upgrades like an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was 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 monitoring. The adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, and the lane-keeping assistance system was effective. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though its RWD version had a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, with standard reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included forward automatic emergency braking and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control.