2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. Despite the Q3's modern and refined feel, it was noted that Volkswagen's newer interiors were catching up, making the Q3's interior feel less special over time.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was a testament to elegance and understatement, despite its massive size. It featured simple rectilinear shapes, a few splashes of chrome, and a monochromatic package that added a touch of class. The interior impressed with seven color palettes, layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were top-notch, and the panel gaps were tight, making the Navigator feel luxurious and refined.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble, and it provided a comfortable ride, making it a best-of-both-worlds dynamic.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator boasted a twin-turbo V6 engine from the Ford Raptor, cranking out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator felt sprightly despite its size. It offered a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, its fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but it lacked the superior control and precision of its competitors.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear seat headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample space, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and 103 in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage. The Navigator's interior was luxurious, with heated rear second-row seats, a three-zone climate system, and sumptuous front seats with insane adjustments. However, parking was challenging due to its size, despite the 360-degree cameras.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, featuring standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to newer systems. The instrument panel couldn't show full-screen maps or different designs, and the cameras were low-res. However, the software was intuitive, with onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to make your smartphone the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and other connections.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with four stars for rollover resistance in 4WD models and three stars for RWD models. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but the Navigator's self-steering capabilities were not as advanced as competitors.