2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased a front end that unmistakably carried the Dodge DNA, featuring muscle-car styling cues like the wide, aggressive "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, dual extractors, and the classic Dodge "mail slot" beneath the illuminated Rhombi logo. From the rear, the Hornet's taillights spanned the vehicle's width, ensuring it stood out in traffic. However, from the side and rear quarter, the Hornet bore a resemblance to the Porsche Macan or Cayenne, which lent it a more premium feel, thanks to its Alfa Romeo Tonale roots. The standard silver 17-inch wheels appeared cheap from afar, but the Blacktop and Track Pack packages offered more appealing wheel options. Inside, the Hornet featured performance-inspired elements like red stitching and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, with various seat options ranging from manual-adjust cloth to power-adjustable perforated leather.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, entered 2023 without significant updates. Our test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featured the Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The interior was predominantly black with real wood trim and chrome accents, and the ambient lighting added character at night. The Navigator Reserve's cabin exuded an upscale feel with quality materials, though some chrome plastic switchgear fell short of conveying luxury. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, despite its Amazon Fire TV streaming capability, went unused by our teenage passengers, who preferred their iPhones.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted "best-in-class performance" with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power output significantly outperformed competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona. The Hornet's Sport mode enhanced throttle response, steering, and upshifts, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. While the base Hornet GT was peppy from a standstill, it exhibited a noticeable lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace, making it a more balanced performer.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD drivetrain. The Navigator's EPA fuel economy rating was 18 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 15.6 mpg. Drivers could choose from five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with Hill Climb available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension, though standard, failed to provide a smooth ride in Normal mode, but Excite mode improved handling at the expense of fuel efficiency. The Navigator's nearly three-ton curb weight challenged the brakes on mountain roads, and its size proved cumbersome in urban settings.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim offered more comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings, unavailable on the base GT trim. The Alcantara seats in the Track Pack provided similar adjustability. The driver-oriented cockpit layout featured a screen angled toward the driver, though the A-pillar's angle occasionally obstructed the view of oncoming traffic. Visibility over the shoulders was adequate, but the front view quirk was notable during left turns on busy roads.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for additional cargo space. Power-deploying running boards facilitated entry and exit, while the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage ensured comfort. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, accommodating taller adults. Storage space was generous, with various trays and compartments throughout the cabin. The extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more cargo space, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and luggage.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's cockpit emphasized the driver with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless charging pad, and navigation. The navigation system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving instructions after ending the route.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, widescreen head-up display, and dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system. The Sync 4 system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed excellently, understanding and responding to commands accurately. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided lush sound, and the Lincoln Way app allowed for digital key functionality. However, the wireless smartphone charger overheated the phone, making it unusable.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, a rear backup camera, and a rear park-assist system. The Tech Pack added front, side, and rear park-assist, driver-attention monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera, enabling Level 2 autonomous driving. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator included a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) in the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. Notable features included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise hands-free driving. BlueCruise worked on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones but struggled with curves, mixed pavement, and construction zones. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.