2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator boasted a series of subtle yet deliberate styling enhancements, ensuring it maintained its luxurious edge. Lincoln introduced new headlights and taillights, and fresh wheel designs, with the 20-inch wheels becoming standard. The front-end styling saw a notable restyle, adorned with a new Audi-esque grille reminiscent of the 2006 Audi A4 but accentuated with Lincoln's star and chrome detailing. This grille, however, seemed to diminish the Navigator's previous elegance and presence. Inside, the Navigator dazzled with high-quality materials and a mid-century modern design, particularly Lincoln’s Constellation theme displayed across all screens, including the head-up display (HUD) and rear-seat entertainment screens.

Contrarily, the 2023 Subaru Forester embraced a homely, utilitarian design consistent with its predecessors from the past two decades. Our test vehicle in Cascade Green Silica underscored this continuity. The Forester, reminiscent of two boxes on wheels, bore a striking resemblance to a shrunken Subaru Ascent with flared fenders, a narrow waist, and pincer-shaped lighting. Among its trims, the Touring stood out with 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim. The Forester also came with robust roof rails, offering a 700-pound static weight rating, and exceptionally functional inside pockets and compartments, though the design remained busy with traditional buttons and knobs facilitating control accessibility. Saddle Brown leather and metallic accents warmed the Touring’s interior, reflecting a durable yet slightly cluttered design philosophy.

Powering the 2022 Lincoln Navigator was a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in RWD or 4WD. This engine produced a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, allowing impressive feats such as a towing capacity between 8,100 and 8,700 pounds. Enhancements included an adaptive-damping suspension system called Road Preview, which prepared the suspension for bumps and cracks ahead, and a new electronic brake booster improving brake pedal response. Driving through Arizona, the Navigator's adaptive suspension and 22-inch wheels tackled imperfect pavement effortlessly, and the SUV climbed elevations and navigated snow with aplomb.

The 2023 Subaru Forester, in contrast, had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque via a CVT. All-wheel drive was standard, with SI-Drive offering a Sport mode and the X-Mode system enhancing off-road capability except for the Base trim. Our Touring trim test through rain-soaked Southern California weather showed the Forester’s confident handling and dependable performance on muddy trails. The Forester’s light steering, responsive brakes, and fine-tuned suspension provided a firm, communicative ride, although its boxer engine remained somewhat underpowered and loud during acceleration.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator offered exceptional comfort with its 30-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. Second-row passengers enjoyed newly massaging, heated, and ventilated captain’s chairs, whereas third-row passengers sat comfortably on supportive seats. The Navigator L variant provided extensive cargo space: 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row (34.3 cubic feet in L), a total of 57.5 cubic feet with the third row down (73.3 cubic feet in L), and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded (120.2 cubic feet in L).

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality over aesthetics. Premium trim and above offered features like a panoramic glass sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer system. Inside, visibility was extensive thanks to the large windows and thin pillars. Passengers in the back enjoyed ample leg and headroom but less comfort due to the inadequate bottom cushion support. The cargo area in the Forester provided 26.9 cubic feet with the back seat up (28.9 cubic feet in Base), expanding to 69.1 cubic feet with the back seat down (74.2 cubic feet in Base).

A significant upgrade in the 2022 Lincoln Navigator was the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.1-inch display. Sync 4 supported both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offered improvements like dual data panels and enhanced voice recognition. Additionally, the new Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system incorporated Amazon Fire TV, while a 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology appeared rudimentary but was highly functional. Premium trim and above featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen, expanding to an 8-inch screen with upgrades like navigation and Harman Kardon audio in higher trims. User-friendly controls with physical knobs for volume and tuning were complemented by older Subaru Starlink infotainment systems. Voice recognition, however, was substantially less effective, often misinterpreting commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto more reliable options.

For the 2022 Lincoln Navigator, new driver assistance systems included Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. Intersection Assist helped prevent unsafe movements, while Road Edge Detection guided the SUV away from potential off-road hazards. Active Park Assist 2.0 facilitated autonomous parking, and ActiveGlide offered semi-autonomous hands-free driving on approved highways, requiring constant driver attention.

In 2023, Subaru introduced the next-generation EyeSight system in the Forester, with improved software and cameras for better performance. Foresters equipped with blind-spot monitoring gained Automatic Emergency Steering to help avoid obstacles. The top trims offered Rear Automatic Braking, which could sometimes be overly sensitive. The Touring trim included a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. Despite new features, the Forester received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, slightly lower than the previous Top Safety Pick+.