2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, inspired by the larger Blazer midsize crossover SUV, was a stylish subcompact vehicle. It featured dark gray plastic trim around its lower perimeter, triple front lights similar to the Hyundai Kona, and two-tone paint schemes reminiscent of the Kia Soul. The Activ trim added a rugged appearance with front and rear skid plate trim, unique 17-inch aluminum wheels, sport terrain tires, a larger grille, and standard two-tone paint. The interior design was excellent, with a well-thought-out control layout, useful storage, and attractive detailing. However, the presence of hard shiny plastic inside was less acceptable as the price climbed past $30,000.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator, sharing a basic platform with the Ford Expedition, stood out with its chrome and brightwork. It featured unique front and rear styling elements, the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, a lattice-type grille insert, and an illuminated star logo. The Navigator also had fender vents, full-width taillights, and black roof pillars for a wraparound glass appearance. The new Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom look with body-color grille and side mirror enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, had a luxurious Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a wide storage console, digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a panoramic glass roof.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for front-wheel-drive models. Other versions had a turbocharged 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and when equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), a 9-speed automatic transmission replaced the CVT. The Activ AWD’s powertrain was agreeable, with torque kicking in at a low 1,600 rpm and available up to 4,000 rpm. The 9-speed automatic provided smooth gear changes, and Sport mode enhanced responsiveness. The Trailblazer averaged 26.6 mpg on the testing loop, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg. However, it exhibited quirks like transmission hesitation in Normal mode and suspension impact harshness over bumps.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with an option for four-wheel drive. Lincoln Drive Modes tailored the powertrain to specific driving conditions, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the 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. The twin-turbo V6 provided strong acceleration, though fuel economy was a concern, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop. The Navigator’s adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness over imperfect pavement, but body motion control was excellent. The SUV felt huge around town but was more maneuverable with a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered cloth seats only with L and LS trims, limiting options for those preferring cloth material. The leatherette seats in the test vehicle trapped sweat, and the automatic climate control system struggled to keep the cabin cool. The front seats were comfortable with 10-way power adjustment for the driver, but the rear seat was less welcoming with a flat cushion and reclined backrest. The rear seat lacked air conditioning vents, adding to discomfort. However, the flat back cushion translated into a flatter cargo floor when the seats were folded down, expanding cargo space from 25.3 cubic feet to 54.4 cubic feet. The front passenger seat also folded down, providing 8.5 feet of cargo-toting length.

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, with power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or two captain’s chairs, with the latter option including a large center console and audio system controls. 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 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered two infotainment systems. The standard system included a 7-inch touchscreen, simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Teen Driver technology, and Chevrolet Connected Access services with a WiFi hotspot. The upgraded version for Activ and RS trims featured an 8-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and cloud-connected vehicle personalization functions. The Trailblazer also had USB-A and USB-C charging ports, wireless smartphone charging, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical controls for power, volume, tuning, Back, and Home buttons. The Bose sound system effectively drowned out road noise and wind.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator’s Sync 3 infotainment system was less impressive, taking time to load content. However, it provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and 911 Assist, a Lincoln Way smartphone and smartwatch app, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. Sync 3’s 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: Stereo, Audience, and On Stage. 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 Chevrolet Trailblazer came loaded with standard safety features, including 10 airbags and Chevy Safety Assist, which encompassed forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a safe following distance indicator. It also had a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and automatic collision notification service. Depending on the trim level, additional options included a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance, a high-definition reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control. The forward collision warning system occasionally mistook objects for obstacles, and the adaptive cruise control was both over- and under-reactive. The lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist system were inconsistent. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of review.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems, 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. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The 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 due to road surface vibrations. The Navigator had a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the rollover resistance rating for rear-wheel drive was three stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.