Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Tesla Model X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Navigator are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Model X 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 Model X 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Navigator has standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Navigator 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Navigator has a standard 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model X only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Navigator’s standard Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Navigator has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Navigator and the Model X 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, 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, driver alert monitors 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 Tesla Model X:

	Navigator	Model X
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	138/94 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches

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 Tesla Model X:

	Navigator	Model X
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	101
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	157 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	217 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	274
Hip Force	569 lbs.	625 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are almost 5 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Navigator’s warranty.

Reliability

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 20 points higher than the Model X.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 9 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Model X (275/55R20 vs. 265/45R20). The Navigator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (285/45R22 vs. 265/35R22).

The Lincoln Navigator’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Tesla Model X only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Navigator has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 5.8 inches longer than on the Model X (122.5 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Navigator’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Model X’s (40 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model X (9.6 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Navigator offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Model X can only carry up to 7.

The Navigator has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 6.2 inches more front hip room, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 8.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 6.3 inches more third row legroom, 12.7 inches more third row hip room and 23.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Navigator’s middle and third row seats recline. The Model X’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Navigator	Model X
Behind Third Seat	19.3 cubic feet	15 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.5 cubic feet	33.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	103.3 cubic feet	88.2 cubic feet

The Navigator’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Navigator’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Navigator’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Model X’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 Model X doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model X’s (6200 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model X is only 5000 pounds. The Navigator offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Model X w/22” wheels can only tow 3500, any Navigator can tow a minimum of 6200 pounds.

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 Model X can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Navigator to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

Ergonomics

The Navigator’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model X has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

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

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 Model X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Navigator has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Navigator’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Navigator has standard extendable sun visors. The Model X doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Navigator’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

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

The Navigator has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

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 Model X.

The Navigator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Navigator owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Navigator will cost $3760 to $8200 less than the Model X over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Navigator is less expensive to operate than the Model X because typical repairs cost much less on the Navigator than the Model X, including $767 less for a water pump, $53 less for front brake pads and $16 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lincoln Navigator will be $1405 to $14682 less than for the Tesla Model X.

Recommendations

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