2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator, sharing its platform with the Ford Expedition, distinguished itself with unique front and rear styling elements and the Lincoln Embrace lighting system. The Navigator featured a lattice-type grille insert, illuminated star logo, fender vents, and full-width taillights, giving it a luxurious and distinctive appearance. The Reserve Monochromatic Package added body-color grille and side mirror enhancements, along with 22-inch black-painted wheels, further customizing its look. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, was priced at $92,385 and included the Luxury and Reserve Monochromatic option packages.

Inside, the Navigator's Dark Slate leather interior boasted Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The dashboard featured mid-century modern styling cues, digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls. A panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials enhanced the luxurious feel. Overall, the Navigator presented itself as a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80, reflecting its Nissan Armada origins, featured a mix of Nissan and Infiniti styling elements. The body-on-frame construction was evident, but the QX80's front-end styling, introduced in 2018, included a distinctive grille and headlight design, giving it an assertive yet not overly aggressive look. Standard LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, along with 20-inch wheels on the base Luxe trim and 22-inch wheels on higher trims, added to its appeal.

Inside, the QX80's design closely resembled the Armada, with wood trim, contrast stitching, and standard leather upholstery. The dashboard had a similar shape, and the switchgear appeared to carry over from the Armada. Despite the luxurious feel, the interior lacked exclusivity, and the foot-operated parking brake was a notable low-end feature. Overall, while the QX80 felt properly luxurious, it might have disappointed buyers seeking a more exclusive interior.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, outperforming the Ford Expedition. A 10-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the rear wheels, with an optional 4WD upgrade. Lincoln Drive Modes tailored the powertrain to various driving conditions, and the Navigator's maximum towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD. Pro Trailer Backup Assist simplified trailer maneuvering.

Acceleration from the twin-turbo V6 was strong, with a subtle yet aggressive engine note. However, fuel economy was a concern, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness on imperfect pavement, especially with 22-inch wheels. Despite its size, the Navigator's body motion control was excellent, lending it a hint of athleticism. Around town, the Navigator felt huge, but a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views improved maneuverability.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 featured a 5.6-liter V8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission, producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. While less powerful than the Navigator, the V8 was responsive, making highway overtaking stress-free. However, transmission shifts were not smooth. The QX80's body-on-frame construction and independent suspension provided a comfortable ride, with some detectable shudders over bumps. The interior was quiet, but the QX80 felt less composed in corners, with noticeable body roll despite Hydraulic Body Motion Control.

The QX80's 4WD drivetrain included low range and a forward skid plate, enhancing off-road capability. However, its size and factory wheel-and-tire combinations limited off-road performance. The QX80's maximum towing capacity was 8,500 pounds, slightly less than the Navigator's.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers enjoyed ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, though finding the right settings took time. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or two captain’s chairs, with the latter option including a large center console. Triple-zone climate control and heated rear seats ensured comfort across all three rows. The third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support.

Cargo space in the Navigator was also class-leading, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet in the standard-length model. The longer Navigator L offered even more space, with 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came standard with a seven-seat configuration, featuring second-row captain’s chairs and a center console. An eight-seat configuration with a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench was optional. The front seats offered 10-way power adjustment for the driver and eight-way for the passenger, with heating and cooling on Sensory models. However, the front seats lacked thigh support, which could be uncomfortable on long trips. The driver’s memory system and multiple USB ports were standard.

Passenger space in the QX80 was competitive but not class-leading, with enough room for adults in the third row. Cargo space was 16.6 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both the third and second rows folded. The power liftgate and power 60/40-split-folding third row made switching between passenger and cargo hauling easier. The front center console could open from both the front and back, but storage space was limited.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was the least impressive piece of technology, taking time to load content. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but was not fully natural.

The Reserve’s Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system with three listening profiles. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display. The test vehicle did not have the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, which featured dual 10-inch displays, wireless headphones, and media streaming capabilities.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80's standard InTouch dual-screen infotainment system included 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreens, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and navigation. A 13-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with a 17-speaker system and a Theater Package rear-seat entertainment system available as options. The touchscreens were backed by analog controls, but the user interface was confusing and required trial and error.

The standard Smart Rearview Mirror could switch to a streaming-video display, eliminating blind spots. The mirror was larger for 2021 and canceled out LED flicker from other cars’ headlights. The Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system provided individual front and rear views, as well as an overhead view.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning with trailer coverage, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability was standard on Reserve trim.

The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated with refinement, and the lane-keeping assistance system was subtle yet effective. The lane-departure warning system produced a vibration in the steering wheel, but it was hard to detect at normal sensitivity. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars for side crash tests, four stars for frontal crash tests, and a three-star rollover rating. The IIHS had not tested the QX80. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and Backup Collision Intervention.