2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a testament to luxury and elegance, shedding its past resemblance to the Ford Expedition. Despite sharing 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 sweeping LED lights. The interior was equally impressive, offering seven color palettes and a modern, muted design. The materials used were of high quality, with tight panel gaps and a sophisticated layout. The Black Label trims elevated the luxury experience with additional textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats were a highlight, offering 30 different adjustments for ultimate comfort.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, capturing the essence of the Range Rover brand. Its design was a scaled-down version of the larger Range Rover, with a sporty and streamlined appearance. The Velar's exterior featured a sloping roof, flush door handles, and distinctive taillight lenses. The R-Dynamic trim added bronze accents and a more aggressive look. Inside, the Velar's cabin was sleek and modern, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. The infotainment system was intuitive, and the fit and finish were exemplary. Despite its stylish design, the Velar's interior space was limited, with reduced headroom and cargo capacity.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a formidable twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided impressive acceleration and a thrilling driving experience. The Navigator's 4WD system was smooth and responsive, offering a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging in the teens. The suspension, while equipped with adaptive dampers, lacked the refinement of competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. Despite these shortcomings, the Navigator's power and highway refinement were commendable.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar offered a different driving experience, with a focus on handling and control. Sharing its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, the Velar boasted a lower center of gravity and lighter weight, enhancing its cornering and braking capabilities. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, delivering 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. While adequate, it required prodding for spirited driving. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, with a mild-hybrid system, provided more power and efficiency. The Velar's Terrain Response system offered various driving modes, but its off-road capabilities were limited compared to larger Range Rover models.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious interior, accommodating up to eight passengers with its boxy design. The cargo space was generous, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 103 cubic feet in total. The Navigator's second-row seats were heated and featured a three-zone climate control system. The front seats were highly adjustable, providing exceptional comfort and visibility. However, parking the Navigator was challenging due to its size, and the 360-degree cameras were not as clear as desired.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, sacrificed interior space for its design. The cabin was tighter, with limited headroom and visibility. Cargo space was modest, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design also introduced a controversial change in the parking brake control, which was integrated with the transmission button. This design choice was criticized for being illogical and potentially dangerous. Despite these drawbacks, the Velar's infotainment system was improved, offering a more user-friendly interface.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's technology was functional but felt dated compared to newer models. The 10-inch touchscreen was intuitive but lacked the advanced features of competitors. The Revel Ultima stereo was good, but not exceptional. The Navigator offered 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, and a smartwatch app, but lacked wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connectivity options.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified layout and logical arrangements. The system was customizable and featured a voice assistant, air quality monitoring, and advanced navigation capabilities. The Velar's instrument panel was versatile, displaying full-width maps and various layouts. However, the driving assist display was less detailed than competitors. Standard features included LED headlights, a 12-speaker Meridian stereo, and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. However, it lacked knee airbags and had optional inflatable rear seat belts.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had not been crash-tested by U.S. agencies, but it scored well in European tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.