2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 presented a more subtle and less flashy appearance compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, and Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes avoided a gaudy grille, unlike the BMW X7 or Lexus LX. The interior of the GLS 450, while basic by GLS standards, still exuded luxury with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were housed together under one piece of glass, providing a sleek and modern look.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator maintained its imposing presence with a triple-black Reserve model. The interior was all black with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, and the ambient lighting added character at night. The Navigator's cabin looked upscale and used quality materials, although some chrome plastic on the switchgear failed to convey luxury. The Navigator's exterior featured black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim, giving it a monochromatic and sophisticated look.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The gasoline engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an electric motor adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. However, the suspension exhibited poor body control, bouncing over bumps and leaning in corners, which detracted from the overall comfort.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured 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. The Navigator had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 15.6 mpg. The Navigator's ride quality was a mixed bag, with the adaptive damping suspension failing to smooth out smaller bumps and cracks. However, in Excite driving mode, the suspension stiffened, improving the ride quality but negatively impacting fuel efficiency. The Navigator had a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds in certain configurations.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for access to the third row, and the standard bench seat could slide fore and aft as one piece, increasing legroom by 3.4 inches. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower to make loading and unloading cargo easier.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. The Navigator's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage ensured comfort for long trips. The second-row captain’s chairs provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which could accommodate taller and larger adults. The Navigator L model offered significantly 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.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, while a head-up display was optional. The voice recognition system, responding to “Hey Mercedes,” was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive and cumbersome.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator boasted a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, available widescreen head-up display, dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system, and a control screen on the back of the center console. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant proved excellent, easily understanding commands and responding accurately. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided lush sound, and the Lincoln Way smartphone app allowed for unlocking, starting, and driving the SUV using a digital key.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, second-row side airbags, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages, which included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise. BlueCruise allowed for hands-free driving on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones but struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.