2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a restyled front end. The updated Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence added a touch of elegance. However, the new Audi-esque grille, reminiscent of a 2006 Audi A4, was less elegant than intended. 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, inspired by a twilight sky, added a unique touch to the cabin. The introduction of the Sync 4 infotainment system with a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen display kept the Navigator competitive in the screen size race.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos, designed for North American markets, aimed to replace the discontinued Volkswagen Golf in Canada. With prices ranging from $26,995 to $37,695, the Taos offered Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trims, with the latter featuring 4Motion all-wheel drive. The Highline trim, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, presented a stylish and sporty appearance. Inside, the Taos Highline resembled a budget-friendly Audi, with light grey seat and dashboard accents, gloss black trim, and leather seats. The Taos boasted impressive interior space, nearly matching the larger Tiguan, making it one of the roomiest subcompact SUVs available.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator retained its twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada, the Navigator offered a towing capacity between 3,674 and 3,765 kilograms, depending on configuration. The adaptive-damping suspension, enhanced with Road Preview technology, improved ride quality by preparing for road imperfections. The new electronic brake booster provided better pedal feel and response. Despite its size and weight, the Navigator handled snow and mud with ease, thanks to its ground clearance and traction settings. Fuel consumption averaged 12.6 L/100 km during testing, slightly better than the official rating.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive models used an eight-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel drive versions had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and four additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and transmission hesitation. In Sport mode, the Taos averaged 8.8 L/100 km, slightly above the official rating. Despite its lack of power, the Taos demonstrated a Germanic driving character, with firm handling and excellent visibility. However, brake pedal feel was inconsistent, and the SUV suffered from wind and road noise at highway speeds.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator's front seats offered exceptional comfort with heating, ventilation, and optional massaging and 30-way power adjustments. The second-row captain's chairs, with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions, provided a luxurious experience. The third-row seat remained spacious and comfortable, thanks to the independent rear suspension design. Cargo space was generous, with 546 litres behind the third row and up to 2,925 litres with seats folded. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more space, with 972 litres behind the third row and 3,403 litres with seats folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered different upholstery options across trims, with the Highline featuring real leather. Standard cold-weather equipment included heated side mirrors, washer nozzles, front seats, and a steering wheel. The Highline trim added rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. The Taos felt spacious inside, with a comfortable eight-way power driver's seat. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, air conditioning vents, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was generous, with 790 litres behind the rear seat and 1,866 litres with seats folded. The 4Motion version offered slightly less space, with 705 and 1,705 litres, respectively.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering improved functionality and ease of use. 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, featuring Amazon Fire TV, provided access to popular streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with the Highline trim featuring a 10.25-inch display. Infotainment systems varied by trim, with the Highline offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice recognition. The navigation system's quirks added to the frustration, making smartphone integration a more reliable option.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. The surround-view camera system became standard. ActiveGlide, a semi-autonomous driving technology, performed well on approved highways but required constant driver attention. The system disengaged on tighter curves, and the driver remained responsible for monitoring road conditions.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its safety features, with standard Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Comfortline trim added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Highline trim included parking sensors with automatic braking and road-sign recognition. Travel Assist performed smoothly and accurately, while Lane Assist operated without irritation. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.