2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. Prices started at $25,195 for the base model, with the top-tier Touring trim reaching $35,295, plus a $1,125 destination charge. All-wheel drive was standard across all models. Our test vehicle, the Forester Wilderness, was evaluated in Bend, Oregon, featuring white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the total price came to $36,014.

The Forester's exterior design, especially in the Wilderness trim, was not universally appealing. The suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding gave it a rugged look, but the matte-black hood decal and copper-colored accents were polarizing. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over aesthetics, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the three display screens could be cumbersome. Overall, the Forester felt well-made, but the Wilderness trim's unique styling elements were not to everyone's taste.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and refreshed in 2022, entered 2023 with minimal updates. Our test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The MSRP was $104,715, including a $1,695 destination charge. The interior was predominantly black, with real wood trim and chrome accents, and ambient lighting added character at night. The Navigator Reserve's cabin was upscale, but some chrome plastic switchgear detracted from the luxury feel.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. All models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Wilderness model's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA rated the Forester Wilderness at 26 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 25.9 mpg. The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT's eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive's Sport mode improved responsiveness, but a turbocharger would have been welcome. The Wilderness trim's dual-function X-Mode system and re-tuned suspension enhanced off-road capabilities, with 9.2 inches of ground clearance and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The EPA rated it at 18 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 15.6 mpg. The Navigator offered five drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with Hill Climb available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension with Road Preview aimed to improve ride quality, but the Navigator's ride was inconsistent, feeling truck-like over smaller bumps and floating over larger ones. Excite mode improved handling but reduced fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller on mountain roads, with excellent visibility and impressive grip, but the steering was slow and lifeless, and the brakes struggled with the SUV's nearly three-ton curb weight. In urban settings, the Navigator's size was a liability, making parking and maneuvering challenging.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, with easy entry and exit, thanks to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester offered comfortable seating for both front and rear passengers, with rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports. Storage space was decent, with various bins and bottle holders. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof) with the rear seats folded.

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 facilitated entry and exit, and the 30-way Perfect Position front seats offered heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which accommodated taller adults. Storage space was generous, with large trays and smaller compartments throughout the cabin. The extended-length 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 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle's Harman Kardon audio system produced clear sound, and the navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been useful. The PIN Code Access feature allowed keyless entry for outdoor activities.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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, navigation system, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided excellent sound quality. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed digital key access. However, the wireless smartphone charger overheated the phone, making it unusable.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with improved camera-based technology and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim added DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology for monitoring drowsiness and distraction. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and Lincoln 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 struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. It also lacked a lane-change assist function and could fail when other motorists cut in front of the Navigator. The NHTSA gave the Navigator a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating, but a full crashworthiness assessment was unavailable.