Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Acura MDX

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Navigator Reserve/Black Label inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Navigator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MDX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Navigator 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Navigator and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Lincoln Navigator weighs 897 to 1584 pounds more than the Acura MDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Navigator’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Navigator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The MDX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 2 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 150 more horsepower (440 vs. 290) and 243 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 85 more horsepower (440 vs. 355) and 156 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 354) than the MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

The Navigator has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (23.6 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Navigator higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (5). This means the Navigator produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

The Navigator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The Navigator stops shorter than the MDX:

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the MDX (275/55R20 vs. 255/55R19). The Navigator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MDX (285/45R22 vs. 275/40R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator Standard has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the MDX. The Navigator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the MDX Type S.

The Lincoln Navigator’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Navigator’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the MDX (122.5 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Navigator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.2% to 50.8%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Navigator more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (9.6 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Navigator’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the MDX Type S (9.6 vs. 9.4 inches).

The front grille of the Navigator uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Navigator Black Label 4WD is quieter than the MDX Type S (72 vs. 76 dB).

The Navigator offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Navigator has 32.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (172 vs. 139.1).

The Navigator has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear hip room, 4.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 7 inches more third row legroom, 10.8 inches more third row hip room and 9 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Navigator’s middle and third row seats recline. The MDX’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

The Navigator has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Navigator’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Navigator’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The MDX’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (6200 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura MDX SH-AWD is only 5000 pounds. The Navigator offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Navigator can be unhitched and driven around locally. The MDX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Navigator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the MDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The power windows standard on both the Navigator and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Navigator is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Navigator’s exterior PIN entry system. The MDX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Navigator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Navigator has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Navigator’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and second seat rows keep the Navigator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The MDX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Navigator has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the MDX.

Both the Navigator and the MDX offer available massaging front seats. The Navigator also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the MDX.

The Navigator’s Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Navigator as the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. The MDX has never been chosen.