2023 Buick Encore GX vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a standard 22-inch design in Canada. The front end was restyled, featuring an Audi-esque grille with Lincoln's star and chrome detailing, which some felt reduced the vehicle's elegance. 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 celestial touch, enhancing the luxurious feel. The Sync 4 infotainment system, with its larger 13.2-inch touchscreen, kept the Navigator competitive in the screen size race.

In contrast, the 2023 Buick Encore GX broke away from Buick's design history, presenting a rounded exterior with awkward proportions that didn't quite capture the SUV aesthetic. The Sport Touring Package added subtle enhancements, but the differences were minimal. Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim offered expected features like leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control, but the interior's plastic elements reminded occupants of its position in Buick's lineup. The dashboard and door panels evoked 1990s design, with the instrument cluster being a notable feature. Overall, the Encore GX's design and interior left much to be desired compared to its competitors.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 3,674 to 3,765 kilograms, depending on the configuration, and it included Trailer Reverse Guidance technology. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview improved ride quality, while the new electronic brake booster enhanced braking performance. The Navigator handled various road conditions with ease, offering a smooth and controlled ride. Fuel consumption was rated at 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres, with the test drive averaging 12.6 L/100 km.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, available in Canada with a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, produced 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. It came with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Encore GX's acceleration felt stronger than its specs suggested, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring a patient driving approach. The ride was comfortable, with a quiet cabin thanks to Buick's Quiet Tuning package. However, the Encore GX felt ponderous and awkward, with slow steering and significant body roll. While it excelled in ride quality and noise reduction, the overall driving experience was less engaging.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator offered exceptional comfort with its heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, adjustable in 30 ways. The second-row captain's chairs were also heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing a luxurious experience. The third-row seat was spacious and comfortable, benefiting from the independent rear suspension design. The Navigator boasted generous storage and cargo space, with 546 litres behind the third row and up to 2,925 litres with seats folded. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more cargo capacity.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive passenger space, with headroom comparable to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. However, the Kia Seltos offered more rear legroom and cargo space. The Encore GX's cargo capacity was 665 litres with rear seats in place and 1,422 litres with them folded. The front seats were positioned close together, reducing the sense of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. Despite limited cabin size, the Encore GX featured ample small-item storage, with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless charging pad. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information conveyance.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, offering an improved user experience. The system supported Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, with voice recognition that was better than the previous model. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system included Amazon Fire TV, providing access to streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch driver information display. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Optional features included navigation, a head-up display, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with attractive graphics, though the screen size was smaller than some competitors.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide, a semi-autonomous driving technology. A surround-view camera system was also standard. ActiveGlide allowed for hands-free driving on approved highways, though driver attention was still required. The system performed well within its limits, but complete trust in the technology was not yet warranted.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, and a 360-degree camera system. The Encore GX received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in crash tests.