2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Subaru Ascent

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a significant departure from its predecessors, which closely resembled Ford Expeditions. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique design features, including a distinct turn signal stalk. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded luxury and sophistication, convincing even those accustomed to high-end brands like Mercedes and Range Rover of its worth. The vehicle's design emphasized elegance and understatement, a challenging feat for a three-ton truck with 22-inch wheels. The grille, windows, headlights, and taillight assembly featured simple rectilinear shapes, with tasteful chrome accents adding a touch of class. The Pristine White model, with its white-painted grille, black wheels, and illuminated Lincoln logo, performed admirably during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts, even putting on a light show when the remote was used.

Inside, the Navigator impressed with seven color palettes, particularly the Slate Gray of the test model, showcasing a keen eye for finer details. The wood trim layered behind the 10-inch touchscreen, the push-button gear selector blending into the center stack, the floating center console with chromed switches, and the minimalist digital instrument panel all contributed to a muted and modern aesthetic. The materials were of high quality, and panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims elevated the interior further with more textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 different ways, provided unparalleled comfort, making the Navigator one of the most luxurious large trucks available.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced the Onyx Edition trim level, featuring a blacked-out exterior trim, badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. Priced at $37,995, the Onyx Edition offered a sporty appearance that was previously lacking. The interior featured water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather in a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching, complemented by metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels. However, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat, making it uncomfortable on hot days. Ventilated seats would have been a welcome addition, but they were only available on the Ascent Touring.

The Ascent's interior was designed for practicality and comfort, with wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees, making it easy to load the second-row seats. Captain's chairs were available on all trim levels, and the panoramic sunroof extended over the second-row seats. The Ascent provided ample storage, including a useful shelf running the width of the dashboard and large cupholders in the second row. The cargo capacity was 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down. The power liftgate and shallow storage area under the floor added to the vehicle's practicality.

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, provided impressive acceleration and a satisfying engine note. The Navigator's 4WD system was smooth and responsive, with a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, consistent with the EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. The adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but the suspension felt rudimentary compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator's steering and brakes lacked the precision and control of the Escalade, but the vehicle's overall refinement and power made it a comfortable and luxurious highway cruiser.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The engine's horizontally-opposed layout contributed to a lower center of gravity and improved handling. The CVT, with eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, kept the engine in its optimal power band while reducing engine revs for quiet cruising. The Ascent's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds. Fuel economy was decent, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined, and the vehicle averaged 20.5 mpg during testing. The Ascent's X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance provided good off-road capability. The vehicle's responsive acceleration, agreeable CVT, and absorbent suspension made it nimble and comfortable in urban and suburban settings. However, the brakes could be overly responsive, and the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance technologies could feel unstable.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample space for six adults, with a possible total of eight passengers if the optional bench seat was chosen for the second row. The boxy shape provided generous cargo space, 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 offered even more cargo capacity. 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 settings for optimal support. Visibility was excellent, but parking could be challenging due to the vehicle's size.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could seat up to eight people, but the third row was best suited for children. The driver's seat provided a comfortable and commanding position, and the Onyx Edition was equipped for winter weather with water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seats was easy, thanks to wide rear doors. The Ascent offered plenty of storage, including a shelf running the width of the dashboard and large cupholders in the second row. The cargo capacity was 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down. The power liftgate and shallow storage area under the floor added to the vehicle's practicality.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small compared to newer systems. The software was intuitive and easy to use, but the system lacked wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. 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 connections. The drive mode animations on the instrument panel were a nice touch, and the overall simplicity of the system was appreciated.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The system was easy to use, with volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons. However, the voice recognition technology needed improvement, requiring specific commands to function properly. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, which lacked sonic quality. The Touring trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with four stars for rollover resistance in 4WD models and three stars in RWD models. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not rated the Navigator. 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 Subaru Ascent earned a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, except for a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The Ascent came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance technology, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering. However, the system could be affected by direct sunlight and lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights, automatic high-beam assist, and optional blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.