2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator received subtle styling updates, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a 20-inch design becoming standard. The front end was restyled, featuring an Audi-esque grille with Lincoln's star and chrome detailing, which some felt reduced the vehicle's elegance. Despite this, the Navigator's interior continued to impress with high-quality materials and a mid-century modern design, enhanced by the new Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen added to the vehicle's appeal, making it competitive in the screen size race.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos, designed for North American markets, aimed to balance appeal, affordability, and passenger comfort. In its inaugural year, it became Volkswagen's third-best-selling model in the U.S., surpassing the Jetta. The 2023 Taos ranged in price from $24,155 to $34,535, excluding a $1,235 destination charge, and was available in S, SE, and SEL trims with FWD or 4Motion AWD. The SEL trim, tested in Cornflower Blue, featured bold 19-inch alloy wheels and a stylish, sporty look. Inside, the Taos SEL offered a premium feel with light gray accents, gloss black trim, metallic detailing, and leather seats, making it resemble a cut-rate Audi. The Taos also boasted impressive interior space, nearly matching the larger Tiguan model.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator retained its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in RWD or 4WD. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 8,100 to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The adaptive-damping suspension, updated with Road Preview, and a new electronic brake booster improved ride quality and braking response. During testing, the Navigator handled various road conditions, including snow and mud, with ease, thanks to its 4WD system, 9.7 inches of ground clearance, and adaptive suspension. The Navigator 4WD achieved an average fuel economy of 18.6 mpg during the test drive.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. FWD models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while AWD models, including the SEL trim, had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and four additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, the powertrain response was inconsistent, making smooth driving challenging. The Taos SEL averaged 26.8 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg. Despite its lack of power compared to competitors, the Taos SEL demonstrated a Germanic driving character, with firm, sure-footed handling and excellent visibility. However, the brake pedal feel was occasionally unpredictable, and the vehicle suffered from wind and road noise at highway speeds.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator's interior featured exceptionally comfortable 30-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs also offered heating, ventilation, and massage, making long trips enjoyable. The third-row seat provided roomy accommodations, thanks to the independent rear suspension design. The Navigator offered generous storage and cargo space, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second row collapsed. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more cargo space.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered different seat materials depending on the trim: cloth for S, CloudTex artificial leather for SE, and real leather for SEL. The SE and SEL trims included cold-weather equipment, such as heated side mirrors, heated washer nozzles, and heated front seats. The SEL trim also featured rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Taos felt spacious inside, with a comfortable eight-way power driver's seat and ample rear-seat room. The cargo area provided 27.9 cubic feet of space behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, slightly reduced in AWD models.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator upgraded to a Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering a user-friendly interface and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system included physical controls for volume, stereo tuning, and climate functions, making it easy to use. The voice recognition system was improved but not perfect. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, now with Amazon Fire TV, provided access to popular streaming services. The test vehicle also featured a 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system, delivering exceptional sound quality.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with an eight-inch screen for S and SE trims and a 10.25-inch display for SEL. Infotainment systems varied by trim, with the S trim featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the SE and SEL trims offering an eight-inch touchscreen with additional features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SEL trim included a native navigation system, an eight-speaker Beats Audio system, and access to premium streaming services. However, the user experience was hindered by hidden virtual controls, a complicated radio tuning process, and a subpar voice-recognition system.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced several new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system also became standard. ActiveGlide, Lincoln's semi-autonomous driving technology, performed well on approved highways but required constant driver attention. The system disengaged on tighter curves and did not react to all potential threats, highlighting the need for human oversight.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Taos S now including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim added the IQ.Drive collection of advanced driver assistance systems, including Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and active blind-spot monitoring. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a road-sign recognition system. Travel Assist performed smoothly and accurately during testing, while Lane Assist provided subtle reminders without being intrusive. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.