2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, on which it was based. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system, lattice-type grille insert, and illuminated star logo added to its distinctive appearance. The Navigator also offered a Reserve Monochromatic Package with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, showcased a Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a panoramic glass roof, all contributing to its luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed as an EV from the ground up, with a streamlined profile and wheels pushed to the corners, setting it apart from gasoline models like the Tiguan and Atlas. The ID.4's interior combined Volkswagen's minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic finishes. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1st Edition models offered leatherette upholstery. Despite its modern design, the ID.4's interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility but limited rearward visibility due to thick rear pillars and a small back window.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 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, and Deep Conditions, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for RWD and 8,300 pounds for 4WD. The SUV averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with the EPA rating it at 18 mpg combined. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable with 22-inch wheels.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. An AWD version with a second motor arrived later, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. The ID.4's RWD setup provided balanced handling, while the AWD version offered added traction and power. However, the ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sportiness, with noticeable body roll in corners but a smooth ride over bumps. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not offer aggressive regenerative braking, relying more on friction brakes for a familiar driving experience.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers enjoyed ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and heated steering wheel provided exceptional comfort. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or captain's chairs, with heated rear seats and triple-zone climate control. The third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was also impressive, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than competitor EVs, though legroom was average for the segment. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, more than many EV rivals but less than gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk, but its cabin felt spacious, with good forward visibility. The interior featured a unique twist-grip gear selector and narrow center console, providing plenty of phone storage but limited space for larger items. Heated steering wheel and front seats were standard, ensuring efficient cabin heating.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive feature, with slow content loading. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, and wireless device charging. The system's voice recognition worked reasonably well but required specific command pathways. The test vehicle's 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience, and additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and head-up display. The optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system added dual 10-inch displays, wireless headphones, and media streaming capabilities.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 10-inch touchscreen (with an optional 12-inch screen) and a 5.3-inch display screen for the instrument cluster. Haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear, which proved difficult to use without tactile feedback. The ID.4's natural-language voice-control system responded to the prompt "Hello ID" and allowed for simple commands, though it was slow to respond. The ID.Light strip at the base of the windshield communicated information to the driver, but its novelty wore off quickly. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high beams. 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, and the SUV earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD version had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD version. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. New features for 2021 included Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, designed to stop the car if the driver was incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding to traffic changes.