Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Infiniti QX80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 QX80 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 QX80 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 QX80 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Navigator’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The QX80 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Navigator and the QX80 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, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Navigator	QX80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	2 Stars
HIC	165	384
Neck Injury Risk	32%	36%
Neck Stress	361 lbs.	439 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	983/651 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	1.2 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	37%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	219 lbs.
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	78 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	452/534 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Navigator	QX80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	27
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	16 inches
HIC	134	437
Hip Force	569 lbs.	684 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 Navigator is 1.1% to 4.4% less likely to roll over than the QX80.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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 QX80 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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti 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 Infiniti 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, Infiniti is rated below average.

Engine

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (440 vs. 400) and 97 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 413) than the QX80’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Infiniti QX80:

	Navigator	QX80
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	6.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	17.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.1 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Navigator gets better mileage than the QX80:

			MPG
Navigator
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
QX80
	RWD	5.6 DOHC V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.6 DOHC V8	13 city/19 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Navigator’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The QX80 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Navigator has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The QX80 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Navigator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the QX80.

Brakes and Stopping

The Navigator stops shorter than the QX80:

	Navigator	QX80
70 to 0 MPH	182 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Navigator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX80 (285/45R22 vs. 275/60R20).

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 QX80 Luxe’s standard 60 series tires. The Navigator’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the QX80 Premium Select/Sensory’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX80’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the QX80 (122.5 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

The Navigator Black Label 4WD handles at .76 G’s, while the QX80 AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the QX80 AWD (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Navigator’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the QX80’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the QX80 (9.6 vs. 9.2 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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 QX80 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Navigator uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The QX80 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Navigator has 19.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX80 (172 vs. 152.5).

The Navigator has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 7.3 inches more third row legroom, 2.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the QX80.

The front step up height for the Navigator is 1.4 inches lower than the QX80 (21” vs. 22.4”).

Cargo Capacity

The Navigator’s cargo area provides more volume than the QX80.

	Navigator	QX80
Behind Third Seat	19.3 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.5 cubic feet	49.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	103.3 cubic feet	95.1 cubic feet

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 QX80’s liftover is 35.8 inches.

The Navigator’s cargo area is larger than the QX80’s in almost every dimension:

	Navigator	QX80
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/48”/86.8”	18.4”/48”/81”
Max Width	51.5”	50”
Min Width	51”	49.8”
Height	37”	36”

The Navigator’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The QX80’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Navigator’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The QX80 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Infiniti QX80 is limited to 8500 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 QX80 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Navigator has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The QX80 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the QX80, 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 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 QX80 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Navigator’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The QX80’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Navigator and the QX80 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 QX80 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 QX80 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Emergency Call with Automatic Collision Notification can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Navigator offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the QX80.

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 QX80 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Navigator is less expensive to operate than the QX80 because typical repairs cost much less on the Navigator than the QX80, including $22 less for a water pump, $16 less for a muffler, $32 less for front brake pads, $294 less for a starter, $98 less for fuel injection, $72 less for a fuel pump and $355 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Navigator as the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. The QX80 has never been chosen.

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Infiniti QX80 by 66% during the 2022 model year.

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