Compare the2023 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2023 Lincoln Navigator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
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 Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Navigator doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Escalade 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.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Navigator doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the Navigator 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, around view monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Escalade	Navigator
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	312 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade is safer than the Lincoln Navigator:

	Escalade	Navigator
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	118 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

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

Warranty

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade first among large premium SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Navigator isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated lower.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Lincoln Navigator:

	Escalade	Navigator
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.3 sec	11.4 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.6 MPH	91.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escalade
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
Navigator
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade V8’s fuel efficiency. The Navigator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escalade Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Navigator:

	Escalade Sport	Navigator
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.2 inches

The Escalade stops much shorter than the Navigator:

	Escalade	Navigator
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	162 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Escalade’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Navigator Standard’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Navigator Standard.

The Escalade 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.

The Escalade has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Navigator; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Escalade has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Navigator doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For greater off-road capability the Escalade Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Navigator (10 vs. 9.6 inches), allowing the Escalade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD is quieter than the Navigator Black Label 4WD (66 vs. 67 dB).

Passenger Space

The Escalade has .5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more third row headroom than the Navigator.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Escalade	Navigator
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	19.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	57.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	103.3 cubic feet

Towing

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Navigator’s (8000 vs. 6200 pounds).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

The Escalade’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Navigator does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade’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.

The Escalade has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Navigator doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

When the Escalade 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

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escalade will cost $368 to $5995 less than the Navigator over a five-year period.

The Escalade will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Escalade will retain 49.34% to 50.01% of its original price after five years, while the Navigator only retains 44.21% to 46.46%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac Escalade will be $508 to $3186 less than for the Lincoln Navigator.

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its June 2022 issue and they ranked the Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD first. They ranked the Lincoln Navigator Black Label 4WD third.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade second among large premium SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Navigator isn’t in the top three.

The Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV outsold the Lincoln Navigator by over three to one during 2022.

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