Compare the2022 Buick EnclaveVS 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/04/29

The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Navigator doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Enclave uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Navigator uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Enclave and the Navigator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Lincoln Navigator:

	Enclave	Navigator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	15.6%	32%
Neck Stress	198 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	77 lbs.	147 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Enclave is safer than the Lincoln Navigator:

	Enclave	Navigator
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	554 lbs.	569 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Enclave is 2.4% to 5.8% less likely to roll over than the Navigator.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Enclave the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 213 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Navigator has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Navigator’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Buick dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Enclave’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in reliability. Lincoln is ranked 26th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Enclave gets better fuel mileage than the Navigator:

			MPG
Enclave
	2WD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	4WD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy
Navigator
	2WD	3.5 Turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
	4WD	3.5 Turbo V6	16 city/20 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Enclave uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Navigator requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Navigator:

	Enclave	Navigator
70 to 0 MPH	179 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	162 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Enclave has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Navigator doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Enclave Essence handles at .82 G’s, while the Navigator Black Label 4WD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Enclave’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Navigator’s (39 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

Chassis

The Buick Enclave may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1300 pounds less than the Lincoln Navigator.

The Enclave is 5.2 inches shorter than the Navigator, making the Enclave easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Enclave’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Navigator uses body-on-frame design instead.

Passenger Space

The Enclave has .8 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more third row headroom than the Navigator.

The front step up height for the Enclave is 3 inches lower than the Navigator (18” vs. 21”). The Enclave’s rear step up height is 4.3 inches lower than the Navigator’s (18.7” vs. 23”).

Cargo Capacity

The Enclave’s cargo area provides more volume than the Navigator.

	Enclave	Navigator
Behind Third Seat	23.6 cubic feet	19.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.7 cubic feet	57.5 cubic feet

The Enclave’s cargo area is larger than the Navigator’s in almost every dimension:

	Enclave	Navigator
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	26.2”/54”/90”	24”/48”/86”
Max Width	52.7”	51”
Min Width	48.5”	51”
Height	30.8”	37”

Ergonomics

The Enclave’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Navigator’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

When the Enclave Premium/Avenir is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Navigator’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Enclave is less expensive to operate than the Navigator because typical repairs cost less on the Enclave than the Navigator, including $135 less for front struts, $145 less for a timing belt/chain and $78 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Buick Enclave will be $29735 to $32379 less than for the Lincoln Navigator.