Compare the2023 BMW X7VS 2023 Lincoln Navigator L

The X7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Navigator L doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lincoln Navigator L doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The X7 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the Navigator L.

Both the X7 and Navigator L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the X7 has Cross Traffic Warning with braking function (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Navigator L’s Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the X7 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Navigator L uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the X7 and the Navigator L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Navigator L’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Navigator L.

The battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Navigator L’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 10th.

The X7 M60i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 83 more horsepower (523 vs. 440) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 510) than the Navigator L’s 3.5 turbo V6. The Alpina XB7’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 191 more horsepower (631 vs. 440) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 510) than the Navigator L’s 3.5 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the X7 xDrive40i gets better fuel mileage than the Navigator L RWD (21 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X7 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Navigator L. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Navigator L doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X7 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Navigator L:

For better traction and acceleration, the X7 has larger standard rear tires than the Navigator L (315/35R22 vs. 285/45R22).

The X7’s optional 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Navigator L’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 offers optional 23-inch wheels. The Navigator L’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Navigator L doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Navigator L doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Navigator L, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The X7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the X7 w/Rear Steering’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Navigator L’s (40.7 feet vs. 43.3 feet). The X7 xDrive40i’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Navigator L’s (42.7 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The BMW X7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 550 pounds less than the Lincoln Navigator L.

The X7 is 1 foot, 6.3 inches shorter than the Navigator L, making the X7 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the X7’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Navigator L doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 12% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

The X7’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 L does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The X7’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 L’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Navigator L doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the X7 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Navigator L’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Lincoln doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Navigator L.

The X7’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Navigator L’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X7 outsold the Lincoln Navigator by over two to one during 2022.