2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, so Subaru decided to imbue its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the larger Outback to outlast nearly every other station wagon in the United States. Visually, the Crosstrek was differentiated from an Impreza by black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height that afforded 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These changes had a big impact, allowing the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV and giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes. New headlights and taillights debuted, the wheel designs were different, and the company updated the Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence. The automaker also restyled the SUV’s front end, which now had an Audi-esque grille reminiscent of a 2006 Audi A4, but with the requisite Lincoln star and chrome detailing. Despite this rare misstep, the remainder of the Navigator’s changes for 2022 rendered the new “single-frame” grille a footnote to what was otherwise a successful update to the SUV. Inside, the Navigator continued to dazzle occupants with quality materials and mid-century modern design, now featuring Lincoln’s Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek received a second gasoline powertrain option. Standard on the Sport and Limited trim levels, the new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine made 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trim levels continued with the previous 2.0-liter boxer-four, which produced 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Subaru also offered a Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid since the 2019 model year, but hadn’t announced an updated 2021 model. The boxer engine, with cylinders running parallel to the ground, was a Subaru trademark, providing a lower center of gravity that could improve handling. A six-speed manual transmission was still standard on Base and Premium trim levels, but most buyers likely upgraded to the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). All trim levels got standard AWD, including torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces. Despite gestures at SUV ruggedness, most Crosstreks probably spent their entire lives on the pavement, where it had predictable handling and a comfortable ride.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator continued with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The twin-turbo V6 supplied a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity ranging between 8,100 pounds and 8,700 pounds. Lincoln also updated the Navigator’s adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview, which could identify bumps, cracks, and potholes ahead and automatically prepare the suspension. Another update for 2022 was a new electronic brake booster, improving brake pedal feel and response. The Navigator’s twin-turbo effortlessly climbed past the snow line, unfazed by the SUV’s nearly three tons of curb weight. The Navigator 4WD was expected to return 18 mpg in combined driving, and during the test drive, it averaged 18.6 mpg.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback. Front headroom was the same, but the Crosstrek had slightly more rear headroom. With 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the Crosstrek was competitive against other small crossovers on passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped Crosstrek models also got a rear-seat reminder to stop drivers from leaving children or pets unattended. Up front, Subaru provided a handy cubby hole ahead of the shifter to place a phone, complete with USB and auxiliary ports. The driving position felt higher than an Impreza’s, but the Crosstrek didn’t allow drivers to tower over other vehicles like traditional crossovers or SUVs.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator’s heated, ventilated, and massaging 30-way power-adjustable front seats were exceptionally comfortable. The second-row seat featured newly massaging, heated, and ventilated rear captain’s chairs. Third-row passengers continued to enjoy roomy accommodations on a supportive seat. Storage space was generous, and cargo space was ample. The Navigator carried 19.3 cubic feet of cargo behind its third-row seat (34.3 cubic feet for Navigator L). With the third-row seat folded down, there was 57.5 cubic feet of cargo volume (73.3 in Navigator L). The maximum volume with the second-row seats collapsed was 103.3 cubic feet (120.2 cubic feet in Navigator L).

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trim levels got a Multimedia Plus setup that added WiFi, a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the top Limited trim level and optional on lower trim levels. Subaru displayed some information on a second screen above the main touchscreen, which seemed redundant. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions like audio volume and climate control.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator received a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a sizable 13.2-inch touchscreen display. The new screen was easy to reach and reference, offering two data panels to view the navigation map and music details simultaneously. Lincoln continued to provide knobs for volume and stereo tuning and physical controls for climate functions. Sync 4 supported both Android Auto and Apple Carplay, with a voice recognition system that was better than the previous year’s model. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system was fortified with Amazon Fire TV, providing quick access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ programming. The test vehicle also had a new 28-speaker Revel 3D high-end audio system, which was sensational.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021 model, the “Top Safety Pick” award. EyeSight driver-assist features included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Subaru’s adaptive cruise control worked well but wasn’t perfect, and the optional blind-spot monitoring system featured big warning lights on the exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator debuted 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, and Road Edge Detection could sense where the pavement ended and attempt to steer the SUV away. Active Park Assist 2.0 allowed the Navigator to take complete control of the SUV for parking. ActiveGlide was Lincoln’s new semi-autonomous, hands-free driving technology, approved for use on 130,000 miles of North American roads. ActiveGlide performed well on straight, dry, sunny stretches of freeway but required the driver to monitor for threats.