2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

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 a top-tier vehicle in Lincoln's lineup. The Navigator Reserve, the sole trim available in Canada, featured a sleek Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-colour trim, although keeping the Infinite Black exterior clean proved challenging. Inside, the cabin exuded luxury with its all-black interior, real wood trim, and chrome accents. However, some chrome plastic switchgear detracted from the overall sense of opulence. The ambient lighting added a touch of character, enhancing the upscale feel of the Navigator's interior.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a more refined and upscale design ethos, moving away from the rugged styling of its predecessors. The Compass shared design elements with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, offering a sophisticated appearance. The 2023 model introduced new wheel designs for the Sport, North, and Trailhawk trims, with the latter featuring gloss black wheels. The Compass lineup in Canada included seven trim levels, catering to various preferences and needs. The Limited trim, with its Granite Crystal paint and multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded a sense of luxury, thanks to digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. However, the high price of the Limited trim raised questions about its value compared to larger compact crossovers.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain, the Navigator offered a range of driving modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The optional towing package added a Hill Climb mode. Despite its adaptive damping suspension, the Navigator's ride quality was inconsistent, with a truck-like feel over smaller bumps and a floating sensation over larger undulations. The Excite mode improved handling on twisty roads but negatively impacted fuel efficiency. The Navigator's size posed challenges in urban environments, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces difficult.

The 2023 Jeep Compass received a significant powertrain upgrade with a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive AWD system, transformed the Compass's performance. The turbo engine's broad torque range and smooth power delivery improved the driving experience, making highway merging and acceleration more confident. The Compass Trailhawk, with its Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system, excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to features like a Rock driving mode, hill descent control, and increased ground clearance. However, the Compass's tall and narrow design contributed to noticeable body motions on uneven surfaces, and the AWD system was slow to engage, allowing front wheelspin during hard acceleration.

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

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a comfortable interior with seating for adults in both rows. Despite its narrow design, the Compass provided decent comfort for four passengers. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and heated front seats. The Limited trim, with its leather-wrapped steering wheel and premium materials, created a convincing luxury SUV feel. Rear-seat space was adequate, with generous foot room and supportive seat cushions. Interior storage was acceptable, though the centre armrest bin was small. The Compass offered competitive cargo space, with 770 litres behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a range of digital displays, including a 12-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Sync 4 infotainment system offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system with voice recognition. The digital assistant performed well, accurately responding to commands. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System delivered impressive sound quality. However, the wireless smartphone charger caused the phone to overheat. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, though available, was largely ignored by passengers in favour of personal devices.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and over-the-air updates. Depending on the trim, the system could be paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, navigation, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The Alexa Built-in digital assistant performed well, responding accurately to voice commands. The Alpine audio system provided good sound quality, though it was bass-heavy with default settings. The Compass also offered a parking assist system and a surround-view camera for added convenience.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) as part of the Co-Pilot360 package. This included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Unique features like Evasive Steering Assist and Intersection Assist enhanced safety. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system, allowed for hands-free driving on designated highways, though it required driver intervention in certain situations. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder system as standard features. ADAS included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were available on higher trims. The lane-keeping system's inputs were sometimes intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The Compass had not yet received crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, and the IIHS had not completed testing for the 2023 model.