2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to embrace a more modern and upscale appearance. This transformation was evident in the Enclave's exterior, which featured a refreshed grille, updated front and rear fascias, and new headlamp and taillamp designs. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheels, offering a touch of luxury that elevated the Enclave's overall aesthetic. Inside, the Enclave's cabin was designed with comfort in mind, featuring upgraded materials and a restyled center console with push-button gears. The Avenir trim further enhanced the interior experience with standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, providing a comfortable and visually appealing environment for passengers.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator maintained its status as a full-size luxury SUV with a focus on comfort, utility, and luxury. While the Navigator's exterior design remained largely unchanged from its 2022 refresh, it continued to exude a commanding presence on the road. The test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featured the Monochromatic Package, which included black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim, adding to its sophisticated appearance. Inside, the Navigator's cabin was spacious and luxurious, with real wood trim and chrome accents. The Reserve trim offered ambient lighting for added character, although some chrome plastic switchgear detracted from the overall luxury feel. Despite these minor shortcomings, the Navigator's interior remained upscale, providing a comfortable and refined environment for passengers.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain provided a smooth and responsive driving experience. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was available on all trims. With a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, the Enclave was versatile enough for various driving needs. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the driving experience with a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, ensuring a comfortable and composed ride across different terrains. Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology contributed to a serene cabin environment, rivaling luxury vehicles in terms of comfort and quietness.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain, providing robust performance and capability. The Navigator offered five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Hill Climb mode available with the optional towing package. Despite its powerful engine, the Navigator's ride quality was inconsistent, with the Reserve trim's 22-inch wheels and low-profile tires contributing to a truck-like ride over smaller bumps. However, the Excite driving mode improved the ride by stiffening the suspension and enhancing the powertrain's responsiveness. While the Navigator excelled in performance, its size proved challenging in urban environments, making it less maneuverable in tight spaces.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress thanks to its large windshield and window openings. The Enclave's cabin provided ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows, making it suitable for long journeys with six full-size adults. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, while the restyled center console with push-button transmission gears added convenience. The Enclave also boasted generous cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats further enhanced the Enclave's practicality.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for increased cargo capacity. Power-deploying running boards made it easier to access the cabin, while the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats provided exceptional comfort with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious and offered a pass-through to the third row, accommodating taller and larger adults comfortably. The Navigator's storage space was generous, with various trays and compartments throughout the cabin. The extended-length Navigator L model provided even more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and luggage.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims offering a larger 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation, enhancing the infotainment experience. The Enclave's system allowed pairing of up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and included a built-in WiFi hotspot. The 10-speaker Bose audio system in Premium and Avenir trims provided superior sound quality, although some passengers desired more volume. The Enclave also offered a range of standard and available safety features, including adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator boasted a comprehensive suite of technology features, including a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system supported wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Lincoln Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The digital assistant excelled in voice recognition, providing accurate and prompt responses to commands. The Navigator's 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System delivered exceptional sound quality, while the Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the SUV using a digital key. The Navigator also featured Lincoln Play, a dual-screen infotainment system for rear-seat passengers, although it was underutilized by teenagers in the test vehicle.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates to its driver-assist and safety technology for 2022, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard on all trims. This package included features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, a rear-seat reminder system, and an HD reversing camera. The Enclave earned a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and received "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced driving assistance systems, bundled in the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. Notable features included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. While BlueCruise offered hands-free driving, it required regular driver intervention, particularly in challenging conditions. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, although a full crashworthiness assessment was not available.