2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling elements from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, notably its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged look popular among midsized SUVs. However, the side profile introduced a swooping character line over the rear wheel arch, reminiscent of the Toyota Supra and Sienna, which added unnecessary visual weight and made the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall body felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander featured an unconventional yet less jarring asymmetrical dash with a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side, creating a helpful storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash, reducing driver distraction.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator maintained its imposing presence without significant updates since its 2018 redesign. The Navigator Reserve model, tested in triple-black with the Monochromatic Package, featured black 22-inch wheels and body-colour trim. Despite its luxurious appearance, the Navigator's ride quality was criticized for being truck-like over smaller bumps and floating over larger dips, even with its adaptive damping suspension. The interior, while upscale with real wood trim and chrome accents, sometimes failed to convey luxury due to the use of chrome plastic on switchgear. The ambient lighting added character at night, but the overall experience was marred by the ride quality and the lack of significant updates.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system, delivering 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, utilizing a supplemental electric motor for the rear axle. The Highlander Hybrid could accelerate to 100 km/h in just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The electric motors provided initial acceleration, with the gasoline engine taking over to maintain speed. The CVT's lack of gear shifts resulted in an uninspired drone during heavy acceleration, particularly when climbing hills. The Highlander offered a soft ride quality, with a suspension that smoothed over road imperfections, and a quiet cabin on highways, provided the engine wasn't pushed too hard.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The Navigator's fuel economy was rated at 13.2 L/100 km in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 15.0 L/100 km. The SUV offered five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with Hill Climb available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension, featuring Road Preview, was standard but failed to deliver a smooth ride, especially with the 22-inch wheels. In Excite mode, the Navigator's suspension stiffened, improving ride quality and performance, but at the cost of fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller on mountain roads, with excellent outward visibility and impressive grip, but the steering was slow and lifeless, and the brakes struggled with the SUV's weight.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with ample adjustments for drivers of varying heights. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned, leaving the driver's elbow unsupported. The Highlander provided plenty of storage options, including a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, with abundant head- and legroom, and the captain's chairs could slide and recline for added comfort. The third-row seat was less accommodating, suitable for occasional use by children or smaller adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for increased cargo capacity. Power-deploying running boards facilitated entry and exit, while the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats provided heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, with a pass-through to the third-row seat, which offered ample headroom and legroom for taller adults. Storage space was generous throughout the Navigator, with large trays and covered compartments to maintain a clean interior look. The Navigator L model provided significantly more cargo space, with 971 litres behind the third row, 2,075 litres behind the second row, and 3,403 litres with all seats folded.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 12.3-inch option available on top trims. The infotainment system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons for common features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were standard, with wireless charging available on Limited and Platinum trims. The Highlander Hybrid Limited and Platinum also included navigation and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, meanwhile, offered a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system included Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The Navigator's 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 SUV using a digital key. However, the wireless smartphone charger caused the phone to overheat, and the rear-seat Lincoln Play infotainment system went unused by teenagers, who preferred their smartphones.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for frontal collision and rollover protection. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+, with the highest "Good" scores across the board. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The Platinum trim offered a surround view camera system and head-up display, while rain-sensing wipers were included on both the Platinum and Bronze Edition. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems required some fine-tuning, with abrupt stops and excessive steering resistance noted during testing.

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. Unique ADAS features included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. BlueCruise required regular driver intervention, struggling with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. It also lacked a lane-change assist function, necessitating manual control for passing slower vehicles. In crash tests, the Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.