2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it featured an aggressive nose and a sloping, low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. Even in AMG trim, the GLE struggled to match the visual impact of rivals such as the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. Mercedes made significant improvements, creating a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures. The red and black interior was both loud and luxurious, featuring twin arching grab handles, LED lighting, and a mix of wood, metal, leather, and suede that was delightful to touch and operate.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator received subtle yet impactful styling updates. New headlights, taillights, and wheel designs were introduced, along with an updated Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence. The front end was restyled, featuring an Audi-esque grille with Lincoln star and chrome detailing, which some felt reduced its elegance. Despite this, the Navigator's interior continued to impress with high-quality materials and a mid-century modern design. The new Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme added a touch of celestial elegance, while the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display kept the Navigator competitive in the tech department. The Navigator's interior was spacious and comfortable, with heated, ventilated, and massaging seats in both the front and second rows, making it a luxurious choice for long drives.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle, offering a range of suspension configurations and turbocharged engines. The base GLE 350 featured a 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, while the GLE 450 had a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. The AMG GLE 53 took this engine to 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, thanks to an electric supercharger. The GLE 580 boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. The GLE's air suspension system, particularly the E-Active Body Control, allowed for exceptional ride quality and handling, making it feel agile despite its size. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with the AMG GLE 53 averaging 16 mpg and the GLE 580 rated at 16 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain allowed the Navigator to tow between 8,100 and 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The Navigator's adaptive-damping suspension, updated with Road Preview, provided a smooth ride by identifying and preparing for road imperfections. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, addressing previous complaints about the Navigator's brakes. During testing, the Navigator handled various driving conditions, including snow and mud, with ease, thanks to its four-wheel drive, 9.7 inches of ground clearance, and adaptive suspension. The Navigator's fuel economy was rated at 18 mpg combined, and it achieved 18.6 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models featuring two rows of seats and an optional third row for seven-passenger seating. The second-row seats had power controls for recline, fore-aft, and headrest adjustments, and could slide and fold for easier access to the third row. Cargo capacity was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five passengers and had less cargo space, with 23 cubic feet behind the second row and 61 cubic feet with all rows folded. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability, featuring a single touchpad and a simplified interface, along with various controls for suspension and driving modes.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator continued to impress with its exceptionally comfortable 30-way power-adjustable front seats, which were heated, ventilated, and massaging. The second-row captain's chairs were also heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing a luxurious experience for rear passengers. The third-row seat remained roomy and supportive, making the Navigator a comfortable choice for all passengers. Cargo space was generous, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row (34.3 cubic feet for the Navigator L), 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded (73.3 cubic feet for the Navigator L), and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second row collapsed (120.2 cubic feet for the Navigator L).

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen display with Interior Assistant, which could read certain hand gestures. The system included a touchpad, right thumbpad, and various controls for suspension and driving modes. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew and GPS lap timing. The GLE also offered Seat Kinetics, which made small adjustments to the seat as you drove, and a range of comfort features like heated armrests, mood-yoga-zen functions, and bolsters that automatically inflated when you steered. The head-up display and instrument panel could be reconfigured in dozens of layouts, and the ambient lighting had 64 colors. The navigation system projected the front camera feed with overlay arrows and street names, and the natural voice assistant responded to the command "Mercedes."

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering two data panels for navigation and music details. The system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and allowed users to save personal settings to a user profile. The voice recognition system was improved, though not perfect, and the Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system was upgraded with Amazon Fire TV, providing access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. The test vehicle also featured a new 28-speaker Revel 3D high-end audio system, delivering an exceptional audio experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, scoring top ratings in six crash tests, for headlights, and for its standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not rate the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor, while optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also featured Pre-Safe Sound, which played a "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side, which inflated the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants in a side impact.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced several new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system was also newly standard. Intersection Assist could automatically brake when drivers attempted unsafe movements, while Road Edge Detection could sense where the pavement ended and steer the SUV away from the edge. Active Park Assist 2.0 allowed the Navigator to take complete control for parking, and ActiveGlide provided semi-autonomous, hands-free driving on approved highways. During testing, ActiveGlide performed well within its operational limits, though the driver still needed to monitor for potential threats.