2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a styling that appeared older due to its resemblance to the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the taillights, which featured a distinctive cross shape. Subaru seemed to have adopted an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared somewhat plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, but the overall look was clean and unpretentious compared to other compact crossovers. The Forester Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester shared its platform with other Subaru models, emphasizing its rugged SUV marketing, although it had always shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense interior featured durable materials, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on lower trims, while leather was available on higher trims, along with an All-Weather Package that included heated seats and mirrors.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, in contrast, exuded elegance and understatement, a challenging feat for a three-ton vehicle. While it shared some elements with the Ford Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique features, including a body-color grille and illuminated Lincoln logo. The Pristine White model with black wheels was particularly striking during winter tests. The Navigator's interior impressed with seven color palettes and fine details like layered wood trim and a floating center console. The Black Label trims elevated luxury with more textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats offered 30 adjustments, providing exceptional comfort. While the Navigator's ride wasn't as supple as some competitors, its low-end thrust and plush highway experience made it a refined choice. The Navigator's technology, though not cutting-edge, was intuitive, with features like voice recognition and a 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo. The rear entertainment system included Roku streaming, and the vehicle offered onboard 4G WiFi and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and featured a manual mode with paddle shifters on certain trims. The boxer engine configuration provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability. The Forester had a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the power felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners and bounce on uneven surfaces. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with a sophisticated drivetrain featuring X-Mode for different surfaces. Sport models offered Dual X-Mode with "Snow/Dirt" and "Snow/Mud" modes. Hill-descent control was standard on higher trims, and the Forester boasted 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling light off-road conditions.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a powerful twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, delivering 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided impressive acceleration and a thrilling sound. The Navigator offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. While fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, the Navigator excelled in highway refinement. The adaptive dampers provided a comfortable ride, though not as sophisticated as some competitors. The steering and brakes lacked the precision of rivals, but the Navigator's overall power and refinement compensated for these shortcomings. Paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness with quick response times and rev-matched downshifts.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous interior space, with above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also contributed to excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. The Forester provided 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench and had fewer cupholders than its larger sibling, the Ascent. The center console was reasonably sized, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not available. The Forester featured large knobs for audio and climate control, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator boasted a spacious interior, accommodating up to eight passengers with optional seating configurations. The boxy design maximized cargo space, offering 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and 103 in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage capacity. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, a convenient feature for accessing the cargo area. The Navigator Reserve trim included heated second-row seats and a three-zone climate system. While the second-row seats could be removed for maximum storage, they lacked electric reclining and cooling options. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with numerous adjustments and massage programs. The large windows and high driving position enhanced visibility, though parking was challenging due to the vehicle's size.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also included a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying redundant information.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's technology, while not cutting-edge, was intuitive and shared its interface with Ford models. The 10-inch touchscreen felt small compared to newer competitors, and the cameras were low-resolution. The infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional. The Navigator offered onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, and a smartwatch app. The rear entertainment system included Roku streaming and various connectivity options. Drive mode animations added a touch of elegance to the instrument panel.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also offered optional features like blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking. The EyeSight system performed adequately, though lane-centering felt jerky.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for rollover resistance in 4WD models and three stars in RWD models. It came standard with 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.