2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator left no resemblance to its Ford Expedition roots, despite sharing side glass and overall footprint. What separated it was a frame of elegance and understatement. The Navigator presented simple, rectilinear shapes with body-color grille options and strategic use of chrome, which highlighted its grandeur. Its presence was emphasized by its 22-inch wheels and the striking illuminated Lincoln logo. The interior followed through with seven exquisite color palettes, including the Slate Gray of the test model, wood trim layered intricately, and a floating center console, making it muted yet modern.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander took a different stylistic route with a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. Flared fender arches and a slightly kicked-up third-row window offered a sharp yet sleek look. The XSE trim particularly stood out with its bold red interior leather, creating a vivid contrast against a navy blue exterior. Different trims provided various externally unique features like ambient lighting and dual exhaust tips. Inside, even the base L trim efficiently organized iPads and juice boxes, ensuring practicality along with style. The XLE and XSE trims incorporated exceptional comfort and tech features, allowing an elevated luxury experience.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator harnessed the power of a twin-turbo V6 engine borrowed from the Ford Raptor. This 3.5-liter engine churned out an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, either RWD or 4WD. It boasted a standout towing capacity of 8,300 pounds (4WD) or 8,700 pounds (RWD). Despite its colossal size, it managed a sprightly performance thanks to its potent engine, though it lacked the refined suspension and controlled steering of its Cadilac Escalade competitor.

In the 2022 Toyota Highlander, the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine produced 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission with FWD or optional AWD. Highlighted by its drive-mode settings, including Sport and Eco, the Highlander felt optimized for cruising, delivering a throaty exhaust note during acceleration. While not as powerful as the Navigator, it managed an adequate towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a more livelier highway performance.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered vast luxury furnished in a spacious, box-like cabin. With the ability to house seven adults, it provided heated second-row seats and ample cargo space – 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second, and a whopping 103 cubic feet in total. The separate rear glass opening was a handy feature for dog owners or when piling bags, although its massive size made parking challenging despite the aid of 360-degree cameras.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander balanced function with ingenuity. With up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with both second and third rows folded, it accommodated a variety of storage needs. With the second row in use, 48.4 cubic feet was available, and fully deploying all seats left 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The Highlander provided practical and user-friendly operation of seats with quick-release latches and pull-straps, ensuring convenient reconfiguration.

For its high price point, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator felt modest in terms of technological innovation. The 10-inch touchscreen was outshined by competitors like the Cadillac Escalade with its intricate display capabilities. Yet, the Navigator still offered useful features like a 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo, wireless charging, onboard 4G WiFi, and included remote app functions for several years.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander embraced a tried-and-true approach, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen supported by hard buttons. The improved interface included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with a useful wireless charging pad. It also offered an available 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system, ensuring a blend of both traditional and advanced infotainment solutions.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator garnered an impressive five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, except for rollover resistance (four stars for 4WD, three for RWD). It lacked knee airbags but offered optional inflatable rear seat belts. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was well-equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and more. Additional safety features like front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view parking monitor were available on higher trims. The lane-keeping assist was notably active, ensuring attentive driving assistance.