2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior changes, yet it remained distinctive. Its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood paid homage to the original Defender and the classic Series Land Rovers. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels added a retro touch. Despite these nostalgic elements, the Defender boasted a modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The larger size of the modern Defender translated into more interior space and better ergonomics, offering generous headroom and legroom, and a comfortable driving position with good visibility. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by metal trim on the steering wheel. The mix of leather and suede upholstery in the high-end Defender 90 V8 model suggested durability, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about interior damage.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator, while awaiting its electric transformation, continued to impress with its size and luxury. The fourth-generation Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and refreshed in 2022, entered 2023 with minimal updates. It remained the largest in Lincoln's lineup, available in Canada as the Navigator Reserve with standard 4WD. Our test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve, featured the Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-colour trim. Despite its sleek appearance, keeping the Infinite Black exterior clean proved challenging. The Navigator's interior, predominantly black with real wood trim and chrome accents, exuded luxury, though some chrome plastic switchgear fell short of expectations. The ambient lighting from the 201A package added character at night. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, though a pricey option, went unused by teenagers who preferred their iPhones. The Navigator's cabin was upscale, with quality materials, but the chrome plastic on some switchgear detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, including a new V8 engine for 2022. Base models featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the mid-level option was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 engine, producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, accelerated the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 240 km/h. V8 models also featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender's 3,500-kilogram towing capacity exceeded many similarly sized luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The test vehicle had a fuel economy rating of 13.2 L/100 km in combined driving, averaging 15.0 L/100 km on the testing loop. 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 standard adaptive damping suspension included Road Preview, which used the front camera to prepare the suspension for changes in the pavement surface. However, the Navigator's ride quality was inconsistent, with the SUV riding like a truck over smaller bumps and floating over larger ones. Excite mode improved the ride by stiffening the suspension and quickening the powertrain's response, but it negatively impacted fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller on mountain roads, with excellent visibility and impressive grip from the large wheels and tires, though the steering was slow and lifeless, and the brakes struggled with the SUV's weight.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatility with its interior configurations. All models featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. However, accessing them in the two-door model was challenging, and cargo space was limited. The four-door Defender 110 model provided more options, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models offered 160 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, 743 litres with the third-row seat folded, and 1,826 litres with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 786 litres with the rear seats up and 1,875 litres with the rear seats folded. The Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious centre-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for increased 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, which offered ample headroom and legroom for taller adults. Storage space was generous, with a large tray under the centre console and smaller ones for third-row passengers. The Navigator L model, with its long-wheelbase, provided significantly more cargo space, with 971 litres behind the third-row seat, 2,075 litres behind the second row, and 3,403 litres behind the front seats. The Navigator's interior was luxurious, with soft leather seats and a clean look maintained by covers for cupholders and the wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an 11.4-inch touchscreen newly available for 2022. The user interface was well-designed, with easy-to-navigate graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features including a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display. The side camera views supplemented the mirrors, while the front view helped spot obstacles during off-roading.

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 Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services with Wi-Fi hotspot access, a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, accurately responding to commands, while the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided excellent sound quality. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the Navigator using a digital key. However, the wireless smartphone charger overheated the phone, and the Lincoln Play system went unused by rear-seat passengers.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist technologies such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. While some non-luxury SUVs offered more standard features, Land Rover was not alone among luxury brands in limiting standard driver-assist tech. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not uncommon for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with the Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Additional ADAS included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. BlueCruise required driver attention and intervention, particularly on curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. The system struggled with sudden lane changes by other motorists, leading to excessive braking and alerts. The Navigator had a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, but no full crashworthiness assessment was available.