2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in its Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV. Its styling was balanced and detailed, giving it plenty of character without appearing awkward or plain. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted drivers, and the Black Label model offered interior design themes like Chalet and Flight, featuring premium leather upholstery and luxury floor mats. However, some elements like the center console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces looked a bit cheap.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, maintained its imposing presence with a triple-black Reserve model featuring the Monochromatic Package. This package included black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim, although keeping the Infinite Black test vehicle clean was a challenge. The interior was upscale with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, and the ambient lighting added character at night. However, the chrome plastic on the switchgear sometimes failed to convey the luxury expected at this price point.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options. The standard and Reserve trims came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The Black Label trim featured a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, requiring all-wheel drive. The Nautilus had Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the adaptive suspension adjusting accordingly. The twin-turbo V6 achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, and during a long road trip, it averaged 25 mpg.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. It had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. The Navigator offered five driving modes: Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Hill Climb mode available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension included Road Preview, but the ride quality was inconsistent, feeling truck-like over smaller bumps and floating over larger ones. Excite mode improved handling but reduced fuel efficiency.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with optional 22-way power adjustments and massage functions. However, the rear seats, while heated and equipped with air conditioning vents, were cramped for a midsize SUV. Cargo space was 37.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. Power-deploying running boards made entry and exit easier. The 30-way Perfect Position front seats offered heating, ventilation, and massage, though they were sometimes difficult to adjust perfectly. Storage space was generous, and the Navigator L model provided significantly more cargo space, with up to 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected navigation, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system was intuitive and user-friendly, with physical controls for stereo and climate settings. Phone as a Key technology allowed the smartphone to function as a digital key.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator had a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L, Lincoln Connect services, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided excellent sound quality. Phone as a Key technology was also available, but the wireless smartphone charger overheated the phone, making it unusable.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label trim added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages, including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise hands-free driving assist. BlueCruise worked on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones but required frequent driver intervention. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.