2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Nissan Murano

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a testament to elegance and sophistication, shedding its past resemblance to the Ford Expedition. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator stood out with its unique design and luxurious features. Its imposing presence was accentuated by simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and tasteful chrome accents. The interior was a showcase of modern luxury, with seven color palettes and high-quality materials. The Slate Gray interior of the test model highlighted the attention to detail, with wood trim and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The Navigator's Perfect Position seats offered unparalleled comfort with 30 different adjustments, making it one of the most comfortable large SUVs available.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano had a more conservative design, which was well-suited for its role as a comfort-focused SUV. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were no longer groundbreaking but remained stylish. The interior was designed for ease of use, with controls logically placed to minimize the learning curve. The Murano's trims ranged from the base S to the luxurious Platinum, each offering a range of features to enhance comfort and convenience. The Platinum trim, in particular, added premium touches like a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and semi-aniline leather seats, making it a comfortable choice for commutes and road trips.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a formidable twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided the Navigator with a surprisingly agile performance for its size. The Navigator's towing capacity was substantial, with 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging in the teens, aligning with its EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. While the Navigator excelled in power and refinement, its ride quality and handling were not as polished as some competitors, with a suspension that felt rudimentary compared to others in its class.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine, coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided smooth low-speed acceleration, making it ideal for city driving. However, the CVT dulled the engine's power at higher speeds, resulting in a slight delay when overtaking on the highway. The Murano prioritized comfort, offering a refined ride that absorbed bumps well, making it a great choice for long drives. Its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many midsize and even some compact SUVs.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious interior, akin to a small bedroom, capable of accommodating six adults comfortably. It was technically a seven-passenger SUV, but the third row's middle seat was best suited for children. The Navigator's boxy shape contributed to its generous cargo space, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and a total of 103 cubic feet. The long-wheelbase Navigator L variant provided even more storage capacity. The interior featured heated second-row seats and a three-zone climate system, although some competitors offered more advanced features like five-zone climate control and heated third-row seats.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, while not as spacious as the Navigator, offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with them in use. Although other two-row SUVs provided more cargo space, the Murano compensated with a user-friendly design, featuring a traditional shifter and a center console with ample storage options. The Murano excelled in providing generous headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality for added comfort.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's technology package included a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to newer models with more advanced displays. While the infotainment system was intuitive and shared its interface with Ford vehicles, it lacked features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. Despite these limitations, the Navigator offered useful features like onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, and a smartwatch app. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connectivity options, providing entertainment for passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a straightforward menu layout and physical buttons for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, allowing seamless smartphone integration. Higher trims offered an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation, enhancing the overall tech experience. The Murano's infotainment system was user-friendly, making it easy for drivers to access their favorite apps and features.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with high marks in most tests except for rollover resistance. It offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and inflatable rear seat belts for the second row, a rare safety feature aimed at reducing chest injuries.

The 2021 Nissan Murano was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of standard driver assistance features. New additions for 2021 included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. These features complemented existing safety technologies like forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors.