2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Nissan Armada

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, and full-width taillights, giving it a luxurious appearance. The Reserve Monochromatic Package added body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, further customizing its look. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, boasted a Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a panoramic glass roof, and high-quality materials, making it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its design with the new Nissan brand signature. The redesigned exterior included a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, giving it a modern look while retaining its traditional beefy styling. The Armada offered body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and various wheel sizes, with the Midnight Edition Package adding dark accents. Despite its updates, the Armada's interior remained dated, with some design choices cheapening the aesthetic. However, it provided practical features like a power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered multiple drive modes and a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, and its adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though it struggled with impact harshness on imperfect roads. The SUV averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. Maneuverability was aided by a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views.

The 2021 Nissan Armada came with a 5.6-liter V8 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It offered RWD as standard and optional 4WD, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. The Armada's off-road capabilities were supported by a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi twin-tube shock absorbers. However, its fuel economy was low, with an EPA rating of 16 mpg combined for RWD and 15 mpg combined for 4WD. The Armada's handling improved with each revision, but it remained challenging to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and heated steering wheel provided exceptional comfort. The second row offered a choice between a bench or captain's chairs, with the latter featuring a large center console. The third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were also class-leading, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L offered even more space.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as a full-size SUV, required a hop to enter, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles aiding the task. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen was a standout feature, though some controls were hard to reach. The front seats were power-adjustable, and the second row offered optional captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity from eight to seven. The third row was less comfortable for adults but suitable for short trips. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet maximum, below average for the segment. The high load floor made loading and unloading challenging.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load but offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. The system's voice recognition worked reasonably well, though not as naturally as some competitors. The Reserve's Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, surround-view camera system, and head-up display. The Navigator also offered "Phone As A Key" technology and an optional rear-seat entertainment system with dual 10-inch displays.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay. A wireless charging pad, 13-speaker Bose audio system, rearview camera mirror, and second-row entertainment system were available. The Armada Platinum included these features as standard. The analog tachometer and speedometer, along with a functional steering wheel, provided limited control of the driver information screen and infotainment system.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Nissan Armada included Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear door alert. Optional features included a rear camera mirror and surround-view camera system. The Armada had a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA, with a 23.7-percent rollover risk. The IIHS had not rated the Armada in most categories.