We compare the 2020-‘21 Lincoln Navigator Reserve 4x4 with a 2021 Cadillac Escalade

By William Jinkins

Pros:

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator too, gets a few updates however, nothing major compared to the 2020 model year.

Cons:

Limited off-road capability

· Too large for some garages

What’s new:

A new Special Edition package adds blacked-out exterior trim elements

· Part of the fourth Navigator generation introduced for 2018

Back in the 1970s Motor Trend Magazine loved to feature the two personal full-size luxury big daugs; the Lincoln Continental Marks (III, IV, V) and Cadillac Eldorado. Each year that one would receive a major restyle, that model would walk away with the bragging rights.

After all the smoke had cleared on anything that resembled personal luxury, Lincoln decided to create the Navigator for MY1998, based on the Ford Expedition. Cadillac quickly followed, slapping a Cadillac grille on a GMC Denali and calling it a day. It would become a slug feast for the following decade, until Lincoln lost traction until its major 2018 redo. That’s when it finally got its act together with a Navigator to put the ailing Lincoln brand back into motion.

Suddenly Lincoln was put back on the map, wooing back buyers that vacated Lincoln for the Caddy. So far, it’s been a good ride, at least up until now, with the 2021 Escalade now in dealerships. So, how does this latest Navigator stack up to the now cutting-edge Escalade? We investigate right here.

The biggest criticism for the previous-gen Cadillac (based on the Chevrolet Tahoe-Suburban) was the lack of cargo room and space in the third row. That has been addressed with the redesigned 2021 Escalade, and it shows. Seven inches longer with a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model, the 2021 Escalade is a full inch longer than the Navigator - almost as if the extra inch was intentional. The design expresses its bigness with bold, boxy vertical ends reminiscent of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup truck. Vertical DRLs frame the broad grille in the shape of the Cadillac crest. The LED headlights wrap around into the belt line to the boxed-off rear, which has slim LED taillights stretching vertically to the roof.

The Lincoln Navigator has been one of my favorite large luxury SUVs ever since its redesign in 2018. Offering a luxurious interior, excellent passenger comfort, many upmarket features and a monstrous 8,700-pound maximum towing capacity, the Navigator can do just about anything you ask of it and do it in style.

So impressive is the Navigator that I don't shy away from comparing it to more expensive SUVs from Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover. Then there's the Navigator's longtime rival, the Escalade. Redesigned for 2021,

With its latest redesign, the Escalade boasts improved comfort and new technology features. Moreover, there aren't many third-row luxury SUVs in the market that provides the same level of brawn and luxury as these two home-breeds. While both are all set to embrace 2021 with added and improved features and changes, I have a detailed comparison of both the cars which should help you to decide the ideal SUV for you. A lot of your decision could be on brand loyalty, and the fact that only Cadillac has the On Star feature, one that it developed back in the 1990s.

The Navigator has always been one of the best handlings and comfortable cars in the segment and this, coupled with its powerful engine options, makes it one of the best performance-oriented wagon cars. However, competing in the segment, which is full of highly competent products, the Navigator gets a rather simple dashboard layout.

Regarded as one of the most reliable and capable SUVs of the segment, the Escalade has been a hot seller in the segment for a long time. Robust mechanicals, great engine options, and a comfortable cabin, the Escalade has it all.

Even with its noisy and less refined engines and a dashboard layout which is not very impressive, the Cadillac Escalade gives tough competition to its competitors. It not only gets a comfortable and very practical cabin but is one of the very few vehicles in the segment which gets such a great balance between ride and handling.

The Escalade is offered in five trim levels - Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum. The Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims are of the same pricing for both the RWD and 4WD trims. This is because the Sport Platinum Trim adds a few dechromed aesthetic bits to the fully-fledged Premium Luxury Platinum trim, thus giving it a sportier appeal.

The Navigator on the other hand was available in only three trim options for 2020 – Standard, Reserve, and Black label. The Navigator is less clumsy as compared to the Escalade with a clear-cut 3-pack trim option. That being said, it still packs the punch to take on the revamped line-up of the 2021 Escalade. Both these cars get all the necessary and modern safety systems in addition to other feel-good features.

A 6.2L NA engine mated to a 10-Speed Automatic transmission, powers the Escalade. This engine churns out 420 hp and 460 lb.-ft of torque. The Navigator on the other hand also gets a 3.5-L turbocharged V6. Just like the Escalade, the Navigator also gets a 10-speed automatic. Similarly, the Navigator also gets an FWD and a 4WD drivetrain. The power output of this engine stands at 450 hp and 510 lb.-ft of peak torque. The engine on the Escalade is amazing and operates very smoothly. However, it gets vocal when pushed but most of the time, although the refinement is commendable.

Also available for the Escalade, as a no cost option, is a 3.0L Duramax Diesel, although the take rate of the diesel is not that popular. It produces 277 hp @ 3750 rpm @ 460 lb.-ft of torque @ 1500 rpm.

Just like other large, naturally aspirated engines, this engine has an extremely strong top-end and pushing the car always makes some quick progress. The 10-speed automatic gearbox is fantastic and has smooth operations; however, the shifts are not that quick as we would have wanted it to. Overall, the car picks up pace in a quick manner and the power delivery gets strong in the mid-range.

The sole engine powering the Navigator is smooth, power delivery is linear and the automatic transmission is smooth and quick, thus delivering great performance figures. However, the low end of this 3.5L Turbo V6 engine can have been improved but is more than enough for the day-to-day city driving. Both cars offer similar performance, but it is the Navigator which feels more engaging to drive as it has a better power delivery.

The claimed MPG figures of the Escalade stand at 17 MPH (combined) which is not poor considering the segment standards. As there are no changes for the powertrain setup in the 2021 Escalade, these MPG figures are being carried over unchanged as well. It is impressive for a 5,632-pound SUV to be able to provide 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. The bigger form factor also has a bonus of a larger fuel tank, 24-gallons to be precise.

The Navigator on the other hand gets a combined fuel rating of 19 MPG, same as the 2020 model as there aren't any mechanical updates. This marginal bump in fuel efficiency is due to the turbocharged 3.5L V6 unit which is much more efficient as compared to the 6.2L NA V8 in the Escalade. The fuel tank is slightly smaller with 23-2-gallons, but the added MPG figures help it achieve a better driving range. Moreover, the presence of driving and terrain modes also helps in optimized fuel usage in both these SUVs.

Both these SUVs come with optimized Automatic Transmissions which work in line with the various available terrain and driving modes to extract the best MPG figures. Both these full-sized gas guzzlers also come with ECO modes, which drastically limits the performance profiling for the best possible fuel efficiency figures. There’s even speculation of the 2022 Lincoln Navigator getting a hybrid powertrain.

With its complete redesign the Escalade now has bragging rights to the latest infotainment screen in its segment. All the controls and buttons are well within the reach of the driver and there are enough storage spaces inside the cabin. The cars get a seven-seat configuration and a spacious cabin. Besides, it gets extremely comfortable front seats which can be adjusted in several ways. The cushioning on the front seats is great. At the rear two, the second rows feel equally comfortable, but it is the third row that may not be as comfortable as the front two rows for the taller passengers.

A more subtle dashboard layout is featured in the Navigator’s cabin, The car gets functional and practical interiors. The storage spaces are enough but the build quality could have been better. A more spacious and comfortable cabin can be found on the Navigator. The seats at the front and the rear are comfortable and provide great under-thigh and lumbar support. Better headroom and legroom is a welcome addition in the third row of the Navigator, making it comparatively more comfortable than the Escalade.

These two behemoths pack all the luxury options and safety controls expected. The only thing worth mentioning is that the Navigator has retractable running boards, whereas the Escalade sticks to its fix units.

It’s a tight face-off between these two luxury SUVs in terms of MPG figures. But to be frank, these behemoths are seldom scrutinized for their MPG figures as it is not exactly the forte for third row luxury SUVs. Nevertheless, both automakers optimized their powertrains to the maximum for a more reliable driving experience.

The Escalade gets a handsome design with a bold and aggressive-looking front. The side profile is boxy while the rear has some subtle design elements. The overall design gives Escalade a great visual appeal and the car does not fail to attract several eyeballs when it is out on the road. The large grille at the front, the headlamp design, and the bulky hood complement

Contrary to this, the Navigator looks aggressive and bold while the rear has a more elegant and subtle design language. The vehicle looks massive and the large grille at the front gives it great road presence. Overall, both these cars look extremely appealing and give stiff competition to teach others in terms of exterior design.

The competition between the Navigator and Escalade is stiff and the cars compete closely with each other. However, considering all the parameters, the Navigator turns out to be a better package with its fun to drive nature, better drivability, and a more comfortable cabin. It is only in terms of the design language that the Escalade currently has an edge.

There is a very slight difference between the dimensions of the two cars but for those who are concerned about the spec sheet, the Escalade is marginally bigger than the Navigator. But in the real world, both are just humongous. Both these SUVs are bound to garner attention on the roads as there are not many consumer vehicles the size of a truck! Personally, the next-Gen Escalade is the more future-proof of the two with its sleeker LED lighting and sharper design language.

In addition to this, the Navigator also scores higher in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance on the long run. However, the Escalade offers a better ride quality Thanks to Magnetic Ride Control, as well aa has more interior space.

The Escalade has a more comfortable third-row seating as compared to the Navigator. It comes with more headroom and legroom and only falls behind in terms of shoulder room. Cadillac Escalade is longer than the Navigator. It comes in at a length of 212.9 inches versus the 2021 Navigator at 210 inches.

Pricing for the Escalade begins at $77,490 for the Luxury trim, the base Navigator at $76,705.

The final call between these two cars should be based upon individual requirements and tastes. The practical all-out nature of the Navigator versus the nostalgia-inducing nameplate with the sharp-looking Escalade.

Standard in every Navigator, this set of driver aids includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance/lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage, automatic high beams, dynamic brake support, and a rearview camera with washer.

Standard in all versions with all-wheel drive, hill descent control employs the anti-lock brakes to control the vehicle’s speed on steep descents. The driver can set the desired speed between 2 and 20 mph, therefore enabling greater attention to the steering and avoiding obstacles.

These optional belts contain inflatable airbags that deploy in the event of an accident. The belts help minimize injury to the upper torso and use cold compressed gas, so there’s no risk of injury from the type of hot gas used in traditional front and side-impact airbags.

What’s new for 2022

After 2018, Lincoln has its first a mid-cycle refresh for the Navigator. The 2022 model gets a visual update, new interior trim choices, and several new features including a hands-free highway driver-assistance system. These changes apply to both the standard Navigator and the long-wheelbase Navigator L, which has even more spacious third-row seat and cargo area.

The exterior changes apply to the front and rear ends, with the grille getting a new texture and shape and the headlights gaining new pixel projector lighting elements. At the rear, the LED taillights now feature an animation sequence that fades out from the center when you walk up to the car and in the opposite direction when you e The Navigator's palatial interior now features a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system that uses Ford’s Sync 4 software, plus new graphics for the digital gauge cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The Navigator will offer over-the-air updates for the first time, and Lincoln says this will be able to add features such as additional drive modes. The second-row seats benefit from a new option for massage, along with heating and cooling. the For the Black Label model, Lincoln is introducing two new interior “themes,” one called Central Park and another called Invitation, that feature special bits of trim and upholstery. There’s also a new Black Label–exclusive exterior color called Manhattan Green.

Lincoln's version of Ford's BlueCruise hands-free highway driver-assist system will be called ActiveGlide and will debut on this big cruiser. It’ll function similarly to Cadillac’s Super Cruise, available on the Navigator’s chief rival the Escalade, allowing the driver to take his hands off the wheel in certain circumstances on highways that the system has mapped. A camera is mounted in the gauge cluster to check that the driver is paying attention to the road. ActiveGlide will be optional on the Reserve and Black Label models, and it will come with a three-year free trial before the customer is asked to pay a subscription fee.

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