Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Lexus LX

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 LX doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Both the Navigator and the LX 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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

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

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 31 more horsepower (440 vs. 409) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 479) than the LX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Lexus LX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Navigator uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The LX requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Navigator has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the LX (23.6 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 LX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

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

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the LX (275/55R20 vs. 265/55R20). The Navigator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the LX (285/45R22 vs. 265/55R20).

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 LX Premium/Luxury’s 65 series tires. The Navigator’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the LX’s optional 50 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 LX Premium/Luxury.

For superior ride and handling, the Lincoln Navigator has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus LX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Navigator has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Navigator flat and controlled during cornering. The LX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 LX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 10.3 inches longer than on the LX (122.5 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Navigator is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the LX.

The Navigator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.2% to 50.8%) than the LX’s (52.5% to 47.5%). This gives the Navigator more stable handling and braking.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD handles at .76 G’s, while the LX 600 F Sport pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the LX Base/Premium (9.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Navigator’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the LX Luxury/Ultra Luxury/F Sport (9.6 vs. 8.3 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 LX 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 LX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Navigator Black Label 4WD is quieter than the LX 600 F Sport (72 vs. 73 dB).

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

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 LX 600 Ultra Luxury’s liftover is 31 inches. The LX’s liftover is 31.6 inches.

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

The Navigator’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The LX Ultra Luxury doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus LX is limited to 8000 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 LX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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 LX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The LX’s 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.

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 LX.

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 LX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Navigator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The LX doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its June 2022 issue and they ranked the Lincoln Navigator Black Label 4WD higher than the Lexus LX 600 F Sport.

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

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Lexus LX by almost four to one during 2022.