2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. This styling exhibited the subtle seductiveness that characterized Mazda’s cars and SUVs for the past decade. However, the CX-50 conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, borderline garish lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. Oversized air intake and vent designs imparted performance without offending the eye.

When paired with the CX-50’s standard black grille and mirror caps and the available 20-inch wheels, these exterior design elements came together appealingly. Later in the model year, a new CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform that Mazda claimed would accommodate a rooftop tent. Inside, the CX-50’s interior displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim, though the lone off-center vent in the middle of the dash looked conspicuous.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, rolled into 2023 without significant updates. The test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring the Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The Navigator’s interior was all black, save for real wood trim panels and chrome accents. At night, the ambient lighting from the Reserve I package added contrast and character. Overall, the Navigator Reserve’s cabin looked upscale and used quality materials, though the chrome plastic on the switchgear failed to convey luxury.

The Navigator’s exterior and interior design emphasized luxury and functionality. Power-deploying running boards made it easier to climb into the cabin, and the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage ensured comfort. The second-row captain’s chairs were roomy with wide armrests, and the third-row seat accommodated taller and larger adults comfortably. Storage space was generous throughout the Navigator, and the extended-length Navigator L model provided substantially more cargo space.

Most Mazda CX-50 buyers likely chose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda believed this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo was the better choice, with a turbocharged version of the standard engine making between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel type. Torque varied between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft. Mazda predicted the CX-50 2.5 Turbo would get 25 mpg in combined driving, though it averaged 23.4 mpg during testing.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth, sweet acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes worked with the SUV’s G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behavior. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and there was a hint of unexpected torque steer while accelerating out of tighter turns. Despite this, the CX-50 didn’t feel like an SUV from behind the wheel, resembling a modern version of a Mazda6 station wagon with a Subaru Outback treatment.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, supplying 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. Drivers could choose between five Lincoln Drive Modes, and an adaptive damping suspension with Road Preview was standard.

In Normal mode, the Navigator’s ride was not agreeable, with the SUV riding like a truck over smaller bumps and floating over dips. Excite mode stiffened the suspension and quickened the powertrain’s pulse, but it had a detrimental effect on fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller while driving on mountain roads, with excellent outward visibility and impressive grip from the big wheels and wide tires. However, the steering was slow and lifeless, and the nearly three-ton curb weight proved challenging to the brakes.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50’s interior featured power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control effectively chilled the cabin. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for hours, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports. Storage space was adequate, with a long load floor between the liftgate and the back seat, though it was narrow between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space measured 56.3 cubic feet.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style. Power-deploying running boards made it easier to enter and exit the cabin. The 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage ensured comfort, though they might offer too many adjustments. Storage space was generous throughout the Navigator, and the extended-length Navigator L model provided substantially 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.

Every 2023 Mazda CX-50 had a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trim levels included a larger 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect historically did not offer touchscreen control, but the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying experience, and the Active Driving Display offered a wealth of data projected within the driver’s line of sight.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an available widescreen head-up display, and a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, a navigation system with an enhanced voice recognition system, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant proved excellent, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System filled the cabin with lush sound. Lincoln Play installed two touchscreens for rear-seat passengers, though teenagers preferred using their smartphones.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS at the time of the review, but it was expected to excel like other Mazda models. Mazda provided a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with exclusive features on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, including Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems worked well, though the adaptive cruise control failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead twice during testing.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a long list of advanced driving assistance systems, bundled in the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. The test vehicle had both collections, including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise. BlueCruise was a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones, though it 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.