2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV with a spacious interior, competing with models like the Kia Seltos, Jeep Compass, and Subaru Crosstrek. It came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045. The Taos offered a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive, with the latter featuring a dual-clutch automated manual transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension. The exterior styling included 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, while the interior had a mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces, with the SEL trim providing two-tone perforated leather and contrast stitching.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, continued into 2023 without significant updates. The test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The interior was all black with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, and the Reserve I package added ambient lighting. The Navigator's cabin was upscale, but some chrome plastic switchgear failed to convey luxury. The test vehicle also included the Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, which went unused by teenagers preferring their iPhones.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's robust torque made the Taos feel powerful, but the turbocharger's delayed response and the dual-clutch transmission's erratic shifting could be irritating. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission offered smoother driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode provided a more engaging driving experience, but the SUV's 6.6-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 27.1 mpg.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with 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 test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving, but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. The Navigator offered five drive modes, including Normal and Excite, with the latter improving handling but reducing fuel efficiency. The SUV's ride quality was inconsistent, with a truck-like feel over smaller bumps and a floating sensation over larger ones. The Navigator's nearly three-ton curb weight challenged the brakes on mountain roads, and its size proved cumbersome in urban settings.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted a spacious cabin, with deeply bolstered front seats offering plenty of adjustment options. The SEL 4Motion trim included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was equally roomy, with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with front-wheel-drive models offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space, with 24.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 60.2 cubic feet with the back seat 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. The test vehicle featured 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which accommodated taller adults comfortably. 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 seat, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the S trim, while the SE and SEL trims had 8-inch touchscreens with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim featured a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the voice-recognition technology and user experience of the MIB3 system were subpar, and the transition from Fender to BeatsAudio components was not seen as an improvement.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, accurately responding to voice commands. The test vehicle also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing excellent sound quality. The Lincoln Play system installed two touchscreens for rear-seat passengers, but they went unused by teenagers who preferred their smartphones.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies, standard or available on all trims. The IQ Drive package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Travel Assist, a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system, combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. Emergency Assist responded to inactive drivers by slowing the Taos and bringing it to a safe stop. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system could be overly sensitive.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages, which included advanced driving assistance systems like Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise. BlueCruise allowed hands-free driving on designated highways but required frequent driver intervention. The Navigator's response to sudden lane changes by other drivers could be excessive, causing abrupt braking and suspension dive. The NHTSA rated the Navigator with a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating, but a full crashworthiness assessment was not available.