Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Jeep Wagoneer

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 Wagoneer 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 Wagoneer 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.

The Navigator’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Wagoneer.

Both the Navigator and the Wagoneer 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The Navigator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Wagoneer’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 Jeep covers the Wagoneer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Wagoneer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Navigator has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Wagoneer.

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 Wagoneer doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Navigator’s reliability 15 points higher than the Wagoneer.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep 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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 48 more horsepower (440 vs. 392) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 404) than the Wagoneer’s standard 5.7 V8 hybrid. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (440 vs. 420) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 468) than the Wagoneer’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 455) than the Grand Wagoneer’s standard 6.4 V8. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 500) than the Grand Wagoneer’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Jeep Wagoneer V8 hybrid gas:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Navigator uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Wagoneer requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Navigator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Wagoneer.

The Navigator stops much shorter than the Wagoneer:

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 Wagoneer’s standard 65 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 Wagoneer.

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 Wagoneer doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD handles at .76 G’s, while the Grand Wagoneer Series II pulls only .67 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the Wagoneer Series III 4x4 (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 30.4 seconds @ .52 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Wagoneer (9.6 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Navigator is 4.7 inches shorter than the Wagoneer, making the Navigator easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Navigator Black Label 4WD is quieter than the Grand Wagoneer Series II (72 vs. 74 dB).

The Navigator has .5 inches more front headroom and 3 inches more front legroom than the Wagoneer.

The front step up height for the Navigator is 1.8 inches lower than the Wagoneer (21” vs. 22.8”).

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 Wagoneer’s liftover is 34 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 Wagoneer doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

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

The Navigator’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Wagoneer’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to 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 Wagoneer can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Wagoneer doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Uconnect Access 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 Wagoneer’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Wagoneer’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Navigator’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the Navigator and the Wagoneer 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 Wagoneer.

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 Wagoneer.

Insurance will cost less for the Navigator owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Navigator will cost $2485 less than the Wagoneer over a five-year period.

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

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Jeep Wagoneer by almost two to one during 2021.