Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Ford Expedition

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Lincoln Navigator has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Expedition doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Expedition 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.

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

Warranty

The Navigator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Expedition’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Navigator 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Expedition. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Expedition ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

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 Ford 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, Ford is rated lower.

Engine

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 60 more horsepower (440 vs. 380) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 470) than the Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (440 vs. 400) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 480) than the Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Ford Expedition (base engine):

	Navigator	Expedition
Zero to 30 MPH	2 sec	2.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.2 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10 sec	10.7 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.1 sec	3.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	91.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Navigator 4WD gets better fuel mileage than the Expedition Timberline/Stealth Performance 3.5 turbo V6 4x4 (16 city/22 hwy vs. 16 city/19 hwy).

Environmental Friendliness

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

Drivetrain

The Navigator has eLSD, a true four-wheel-drive system, which uses a four wheel traction control system to redirect engine power to the axle and wheel that still has traction to keep the Navigator moving if even only one wheel still has traction. The Expedition doesn’t offer a true four-wheel drive system; it could get stuck while one or more wheels still have traction.

Brakes and Stopping

The Navigator stops shorter than the Expedition:

	Navigator	Expedition
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Expedition (275/55R20 vs. 265/70R18).

The Navigator Standard’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Expedition Timberline’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator Standard has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Expedition.

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator Black Label 4WD handles at .77 G’s, while the Expedition XLT 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Navigator’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Expedition’s (40 feet vs. 41 feet).

Passenger Space

The Navigator has .3 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Expedition.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Navigator easier. The Navigator’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Expedition’s liftover is 34.7 inches.

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

Towing

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition’s (6200 vs. 6000 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Expedition (except STX), the Navigator Reserve/Black Label has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, foot pedal distance, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Navigator’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Expedition, and is not available on all models.

The Navigator Reserve/Black Label has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Navigator’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Expedition’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Navigator the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Expedition can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Expedition’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 Expedition doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Expedition 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 Expedition.

Both the Navigator and the Expedition 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 Expedition.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Navigator has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Expedition and isn’t available on the Expedition STX.

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 Expedition (except STX)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Navigator is less expensive to operate than the Expedition because typical repairs cost less on the Navigator than the Expedition, including $29 less for a starter.

Recommendations

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