2021 Toyota Venza vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out as a luxurious flagship SUV, distinguished by its unique design elements that set it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers went the extra mile to give the Navigator a distinct identity, featuring completely different front and rear styling, a lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, and full-width taillights. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system added a welcoming touch, while the black roof pillars created a wraparound glass appearance. Inside, the Navigator offered a mid-century modern aesthetic with high-quality materials, a panoramic glass roof, and advanced digital instrumentation, including a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen and piano-key transmission controls.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Venza was praised for its Lexus-like appearance, with a design that blurred the lines between the two brands. The Venza's elongated profile and grille drew comparisons to the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—the Venza offered a range of paint colours and a long list of standard features, including LED lighting, alloy wheels, and a wireless charging pad. The interior boasted premium appointments, with a unique centre stack design, capacitive buttons, and a deep centre console. The Venza's cabin provided ample comfort for both front and rear passengers, with a focus on elegance and refinement.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the Ford Expedition's most powerful version by 50 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive ensured smooth power delivery, with multiple drive modes to tailor the driving experience. The Navigator excelled in towing, with a maximum capacity of 3,764 kilograms, aided by the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. Despite its size, the Navigator offered strong acceleration and excellent body motion control, though fuel efficiency was a concern, averaging 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with electric motors for a total output of 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. While not as powerful as some competitors, the Venza provided smooth acceleration and confident handling. The electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) allowed for sequential shifting and regenerative braking. The Venza excelled in fuel efficiency, achieving an estimated 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.1 L/100 km combined. Toyota's hybrid powertrain came with a 10-year/240,000-kilometre warranty, offering peace of mind to buyers.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with optional 30-way Perfect Position front seats that required some time to adjust but provided exceptional comfort. The second row could be configured with a bench or captain's chairs, and the third row offered ample legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was class-leading, with up to 2,928 litres in the standard model and 3,407 litres in the long-wheelbase Navigator L. The Navigator's interior was designed for luxury and convenience, with features like triple-zone climate control and heated rear seats.

The 2021 Toyota Venza prioritized practicality and comfort, with a unique cabin design that set it apart from other Toyota models. The centre stack featured premium materials and capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The Venza's interior provided ample space for passengers, with comfortable seating for both front and rear occupants. While cargo space was less than some competitors, the Venza offered 816 litres, which was sufficient for daily use. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats allowed for easy cargo arrangement, making the Venza a versatile choice for everyday driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was a weak point, with slow loading times, though it offered features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's voice recognition was functional but not as advanced as some competitors. The Reserve's Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, providing an immersive listening experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Entune infotainment system, with an 8-inch screen on the LE and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the XLE and Limited. While the system was responsive, it required multiple menu trips for some functions. The Venza included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system on higher trims. Toyota connected services, such as Safety Connect and Remote Connect, were standard, along with dynamic navigation on models with the larger screen.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, and the lane-keeping assistance was effective. The SUV received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, with eight airbags, a rearview camera, and a range of driver-assist technologies. Standard features included pre-collision warning, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was also standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking on higher trims. The Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.