2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

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 touches, 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 featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and tasteful chrome accents, making it a standout in any setting. The Pristine White model with a white-painted grille, black wheels, and 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, adding to its charm.

Inside, the Navigator's interior was a testament to luxury, with seven color palettes and meticulous attention to detail. The Slate Gray interior of the test model showcased layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were top-notch, and the panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims offered even more luxurious textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 different ways, provided unparalleled comfort. While the Range Rover might have been more sumptuous, the Navigator's spacious and refined interior made it a formidable competitor in the luxury SUV market.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, available in various trims including the new Wilderness, started at $25,195 and topped out at $35,295 for the Touring model. The Wilderness trim, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945. With additional options, the test vehicle's price reached $36,014. The Forester's rugged exterior, with its suspension lift, higher ride height, and protective cladding, gave it a distinctive look, though not necessarily an attractive one. The interior, while functional, emphasized practicality over aesthetics, with hard plastic and soft surfaces creating a somewhat dated feel.

The 2022 Forester Wilderness retained the model's 8-inch Starlink infotainment system, which was user-friendly despite having three display screens. The Forester's driving dynamics were pleasing, though the lack of a turbocharger meant it lacked outright acceleration. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and AWD. The Wilderness model's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Forester's fuel economy was commendable, averaging 25.9 mpg during tests. The long-travel suspension and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires made it capable off-road, while the dual-function X-Mode system improved handling on various surfaces.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, producing an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, made the Navigator feel surprisingly agile for its size. The 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 Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, though not as refined as the Cadillac Escalade's magnetic shocks and air springs. The steering and brakes lacked the precision of the Escalade, but the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a comfortable highway cruiser.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The CVT and AWD system, particularly in the Wilderness model, provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Forester's fuel economy was commendable, averaging 25.9 mpg during tests. The long-travel suspension and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires made it capable off-road, while the dual-function X-Mode system improved handling on various surfaces. The Forester's driving dynamics were pleasing, though the lack of a turbocharger meant it lacked outright acceleration. The CVT's eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive's Sport mode provided a lively response, but a turbocharger would have been a welcome addition.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample space, with a boxy design that could comfortably accommodate six adults. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children, but the power-folding and raising feature added convenience. The second row featured manually-reclining and tilting captain's chairs, with an optional bench for a total of eight passengers. Cargo space was generous, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and 103 in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more storage, with 34, 73, and 120 cubic feet, respectively. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, a handy feature for loading and unloading. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with a high driving position providing excellent visibility. However, parking was challenging due to the vehicle's size.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit thanks to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable material on the rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails with integrated tie-down locations accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, making it suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester's interior was comfortable, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Storage space was decent, with various bins and bottle holders. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the rear seat down increased the capacity to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making it one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

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 couldn't wirelessly connect to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. 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 connections, and switching drive modes displayed beautiful animations on the instrument panel.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, even in base trim, included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. The Premium trim added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, with options for a navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. The test vehicle's navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been useful. The voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The PIN Code Access feature allowed drivers to leave the key fob in the vehicle and use a PIN code to re-enter, a handy feature for outdoor activities.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance (four stars for 4WD models, three stars for RWD models). 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, though the Navigator's self-steering and lane-tracking capabilities were not as advanced as some competitors.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with improved accuracy and smoother operation. The new Automatic Emergency Steering system operated at speeds under 50 mph to help avoid collisions. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Safety and Security subscription plan provided access to automatic collision notification and SOS emergency assistance. The Touring trim included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology that monitored for drowsiness and distraction. The 2022 Forester earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in all evaluations except for rollover resistance (four stars). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not yet rated the 2022 model, but it was expected to retain the 2021 model's "Top Safety Pick+" rating.