2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a significant departure from its predecessors, which often resembled dressed-up Ford Expeditions. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique design features, including a distinctive turn signal stalk. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded luxury and elegance, impressing even those accustomed to high-end brands like Mercedes and Range Rover. Its exterior design featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and subtle chrome accents, creating a classy and understated look. The Pristine White model with a white-painted grille, black wheels, and an illuminated Lincoln logo was particularly striking during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Navigator also featured a small light show when locking or unlocking the vehicle, adding to its charm.

Inside, the Navigator's interior was equally impressive, offering seven color palettes, with the Slate Gray option showcasing a taste for finer details. The wood trim, push-button gear selector, floating center console, and minimalist digital instrument panel contributed to a modern and muted aesthetic. The materials used were of high quality, and the panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims elevated the luxury experience further with more textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 different ways, provided exceptional comfort. Fully loaded, the Navigator's interior rivaled that of much smaller and more expensive luxury SUVs, making it a standout in its class.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition aimed to appeal to those who loved black-on-black vehicles, despite the challenges of maintaining such a finish. The Black Line treatment eliminated most chrome from the GX's exterior, giving it a sleek and modern appearance. However, the GX's design, both inside and out, felt dated. The exterior, despite updates like the signature Lexus spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, still resembled the first-generation GX 470 from 2002. The interior, while featuring high-quality materials and a quiet cabin, retained an old-school feel with physical controls and some outdated switchgear.

The GX 460's cabin quality was commendable, with smooth and refined materials, but the overall design lacked the modernity seen in newer SUVs. The Black Line Special Edition added NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner, enhancing the interior's appeal. However, the rear seat access was challenging, and the third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable for adults. The GX's cargo space was also limited, especially with the third-row seat in use, and the side-swinging tailgate made loading and unloading cumbersome.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a powerful twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided impressive acceleration and a satisfying engine note. The Navigator's 4WD system was smooth and responsive, offering 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, consistent with its EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but it lacked the refinement of competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The steering and brakes felt less precise, but the Navigator's overall refinement and power made it a comfortable highway cruiser.

In comparison, the 2022 Lexus GX 460 was equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. While not as powerful as the Navigator, the GX's V8 provided a satisfying engine note and adequate torque for a 7.8-second run to 60 mph. The GX's six-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD system contributed to its off-road capability, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. However, its fuel economy was also poor, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) improved ride stability, but the steering was slow and heavy, making parking a chore. The GX's off-road capabilities were commendable, but its on-road performance felt dated compared to more modern SUVs.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space, with seating for up to eight passengers and generous cargo capacity. The boxy design provided 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L increased these figures to 34, 73, and 120 cubic feet, respectively. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience. The Navigator's front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with numerous customization options. However, the second-row seats lacked some advanced features found in competitors, such as electric reclining and cooling.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, designed for global markets, featured a tall and narrow design, making it easy to maneuver in various environments. The front seats were comfortable and provided good visibility, but the rear seat access was challenging due to narrow door openings. The third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable for adults, and its presence reduced cargo space. With the third-row seat in use, the GX offered only 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, increasing to 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 64.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. The side-swinging tailgate made loading and unloading difficult, especially in tight spaces.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small compared to newer competitors. While the system was intuitive and easy to use, it lacked some advanced features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. The Navigator offered onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, and a smartwatch app, along with remote app functions and SiriusXM traffic data. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connectivity options. However, the overall technology package felt dated compared to more modern luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation, along with a CD player and a Lexus app with smartwatch compatibility. The GX also featured a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, although it was not included in the test vehicle. The infotainment system offered a dual-screen view, allowing users to see the navigation map and radio display simultaneously. The voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. However, the placement of the stereo controls below the off-roading controls was awkward, and the knobs were difficult to use.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator lacked knee airbags but offered optional inflatable rear seat belts for the second row. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional but did not offer advanced lane-keeping capabilities.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, being an older design, lacked crash-test ratings from major safety organizations. However, it came equipped with Lexus Safety System+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. However, the GX lacked some advanced safety technologies found in newer competitors, such as lane-keeping assist and semi-autonomous driving systems.