2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

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 design theme focused on elegance and understatement, a challenging feat for a three-ton vehicle. The exterior featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and tasteful chrome accents. The Pristine White model, with its white-painted grille, black wheels, and illuminated Lincoln logo, was particularly striking during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Navigator's interior was equally impressive, offering seven color palettes and a taste for finer details. The Slate Gray interior of the test truck showcased layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were of high quality, and the panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims elevated the luxury further with more textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 different ways, added to the overall comfort and luxury of the Navigator's interior. The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to build on its success with a more mature and sophisticated look. The exterior design featured Nissan's V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and active grille shutters for improved airflow. The floating roof and slightly bulging liftgate added to its sleek appearance. Inside, the Rogue followed the trend of a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, creating a sophisticated and detailed look. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever that freed up space for additional storage. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver's eye line, and the instrument panel offered a 7-inch center display or a full 12.3-inch digital screen in upper trims. The Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats were comfortable, and the second row provided ample legroom and space for passengers. The Rogue's fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a 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, made the Navigator feel surprisingly sprightly for its size. The 4WD system was smooth and responsive, and the towing capacity was impressive, with 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, fuel economy was a downside, averaging in the teens and fitting the EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but the suspension felt rudimentary compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The steering and brakes were looser and softer, respectively, but the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a refined and powerful highway cruiser. Paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness with quick reaction times and rev-matched downshifts. The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine, with its variable compression technology, offered a significant improvement over the previous 2.5-liter inline-four engine. The Rogue's fuel economy was impressive, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission provided a wider range of gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension delivered a smooth and controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering had good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight. Overall, the Rogue's performance was lively and efficient, making it a capable and enjoyable vehicle to drive.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space, with the capacity to house six adults comfortably. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children, and the second row featured manually-reclining and tilting captain's chairs, with an optional bench for a total of eight passengers. The cargo space was generous, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage space. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience. The Navigator Reserve featured heated second-row seats and a three-zone climate control system. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with numerous customization options. However, parking the Navigator was challenging due to its size, despite the 360-degree cameras. The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior storage options, with numerous places to stash items in the front cabin, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and more. The rear-seat passengers also had storage options and USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The second-row seat was a 60/40 split reclining bench. The Rogue's cargo area was spacious, offering 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of luggage space, depending on the configuration. Folding the second row flat provided 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space, making it a practical choice for families and commuters.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to newer models like the Cadillac Escalade. The instrument panel lacked full-screen maps and different designs, and the cameras were low-resolution. The infotainment system did not support wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, the software was intuitive, with a unique Lincoln interface. Voice recognition was fast and accurate, but there were no onboard apps or wireless software updates. The Navigator included onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connection options. Drive mode animations added a touch of elegance to the instrument panel. The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from its 2021 makeover. Upper trim levels featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The Rogue used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands for navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link. This system could adjust speed proactively based on road conditions. Nissan's Intelligent Key allowed for convenient unlocking of the rear doors, making it a practical feature for families.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator did not offer knee airbags, but inflatable rear seat belts for the second row were optional. 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 some competitors. The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trim levels. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Rogue had ten supplemental airbags and extended crumple zones for passive safety. Additional safety features included Nissan's Intelligent Driver Alertness technology and rear door alert. ProPilot Assist, available on upper trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for advanced driver assistance. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.