2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, a full-size luxury SUV, continued to impress with its imposing presence and upscale design. Despite the anticipation of an electric version, the current model maintained its status as Lincoln's flagship SUV, offering a single trim level in Canada, the Navigator Reserve, with standard four-wheel drive. The test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve, featured the Monochromatic Package, adding black 22-inch wheels and body-colour trim, though keeping it clean proved challenging. Inside, the Navigator's cabin exuded luxury with its all-black interior, real wood trim, and chrome accents, though some switchgear failed to convey the expected opulence.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from its earlier blocky exterior. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape offered a range of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top choice for our test. The Escape's design leaned towards a sleek and upscale appearance, reminiscent of a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the ST-Line Elite boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the interior was well-suited for long drives, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat.

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 Navigator offered five drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The SUV's adaptive damping suspension, however, failed to deliver a smooth ride, with the 22-inch wheels contributing to a truck-like experience over smaller bumps. Excite mode improved handling on mountain roads but negatively impacted fuel efficiency. The Navigator's size posed challenges in urban environments, making parking and manoeuvring difficult.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter, available on higher trims, provided better acceleration and passing power. Despite the four-cylinder's output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes were predictable and linear, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering roomy seats across all three rows and a cavernous cargo area. Power-deploying running boards facilitated entry and exit, while the 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats provided heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, and the third-row seat accommodated taller adults comfortably. Storage space was generous, with various trays and compartments throughout the cabin. The long-wheelbase Navigator L model offered even more cargo space, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and luggage.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space, with up to 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, was adequate for daily use but fell short of segment leaders. Passenger space was slightly less than some competitors, though the back seat offered good headroom and soft, scalloped front-seat backs to maximize space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 system included Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The digital assistant performed well, understanding commands accurately. The Navigator also offered a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System and Phone As A Key technology. However, the wireless smartphone charger overheated devices, and the Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system went unused by teenagers.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look, and the system was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. Sync 4 was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient, but the overall feature set and ease of use were commendable. A Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. Unique features included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system. However, BlueCruise struggled with curves and construction zones, requiring driver intervention. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, but a full crashworthiness assessment was unavailable.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. The IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape's Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.