2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, maintaining its traditional styling while adding a touch of modern flair. The XC90 retained its boxy profile and blunt front end, but with softer lines and more chrome detailing, it presented a more refined appearance. The LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights were a standout feature, adding a distinctive touch to the vehicle's overall design. The Inscription trim level, with its extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the most eye-catching, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. Inside, the XC90 embraced Swedish minimalism, with high-quality materials and a thoughtfully arranged interior. The use of matte-finish wood trim and the option for wool upholstery added a unique touch, while the Orrefors crystal shifter provided a high-end feel, albeit slightly out of place in the otherwise restrained cabin.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs. The front end received a restyle, featuring an Audi-esque grille with the Lincoln star and chrome detailing, which some felt lacked the elegance of previous models. Despite this, the Navigator's updates were largely successful, with the interior continuing to impress with quality materials and a mid-century modern design. The new Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme added a touch of sophistication, while the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display brought the Navigator up to date with its competitors. The Navigator's interior was spacious and comfortable, with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, and a roomy third row. The Navigator L offered even more cargo space, making it an ideal choice for those needing to haul large loads.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all centred around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 variant added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric motors, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. All models in Canada came with standard all-wheel drive. While the XC90's power was sufficient for its size, the small engine struggled to provide the flexibility of larger engines found in competitor SUVs. The XC90's ride quality was excellent, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and it offered a respectable towing capacity of 2,250 kilograms.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, the Navigator came with standard four-wheel drive. The SUV's towing capacity ranged from 3,674 to 3,765 kilograms, depending on the configuration, and it featured Trailer Reverse Guidance technology for easier towing. The Navigator's adaptive-damping suspension, updated with Road Preview, provided a smooth ride, even on imperfect pavement. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, addressing previous concerns. The Navigator handled various driving conditions with ease, thanks to its four-wheel drive and ample ground clearance. Fuel consumption was rated at 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 12.6 L/100 km.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. While headroom and legroom were average for the segment, the third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. The optional power sunroof and upright roof profile gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Cargo space was limited, with 317 litres behind the third row, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with both rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator excelled in comfort, with 30-way power-adjustable front seats that were heated, ventilated, and massaging. The second-row captain’s chairs offered similar features, and the third row provided roomy accommodations. The Navigator's independent rear suspension design contributed to a comfortable third-row seat. Storage and cargo space were generous, with the Navigator L offering even more room. The Navigator provided 546 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,627 litres with the third row folded, and 2,925 litres with the second row collapsed. The Navigator L increased these figures to 972, 2,077, and 3,403 litres, respectively.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It included a 9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. The system was easy to use, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for intuitive navigation. However, the text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and a head-up display. The wireless charging pad was a welcome addition, but it struggled to accommodate larger phones.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display. The system was user-friendly, with a landscape-oriented screen that provided easy access to navigation and music details. Physical controls for volume, stereo tuning, and climate functions were retained, ensuring ease of use. Sync 4 supported Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, and allowed for extensive customization through user profiles. The voice recognition system was improved, though not perfect. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, now with Amazon Fire TV, offered access to popular streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. It also earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing and an "Advanced" rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. The NHTSA awarded the XC90 a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system became standard. Intersection Assist could automatically brake to prevent unsafe movements, while Active Park Assist 2.0 allowed the Navigator to park itself. ActiveGlide, a semi-autonomous driving technology, enabled hands-free driving on approved highways. While ActiveGlide performed well, it required constant driver attention. These systems represented steps toward fully autonomous driving but highlighted the importance of driver vigilance.