Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Lincoln Navigator

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Lincoln Navigator doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The GLS’ 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Navigator doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLS and Navigator have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLS has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Navigator’s Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the GLS 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 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the GLS and the Navigator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS second among large premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Navigator isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Lincoln.

The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 70 more horsepower (510 vs. 440) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 510) than the Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 110 more horsepower (550 vs. 440) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 510) than the Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lincoln Navigator:

On the EPA test cycle the GLS 450 gets better fuel mileage than the Navigator (19 city/24 hwy vs. 16 city/22 hwy).

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

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

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Navigator:

The GLS stops much shorter than the Navigator:

For better traction and acceleration, the GLS has larger standard rear tires than the Navigator (315/40R21 vs. 275/55R20). The GLS’ optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Navigator (325/35R23 vs. 285/45R22).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Navigator Premiere’s standard 55 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Navigator’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Navigator Premiere. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Navigator.

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

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lincoln doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Navigator.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ 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 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the Navigator Black Label pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Navigator Black Label (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Navigator (10.1 vs. 9.6 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Navigator (11.3 vs. 9.6 inches).

The Mercedes GLS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Lincoln Navigator.

The GLS 450 is 5.1 inches shorter than the Navigator, making the GLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the GLS’ 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 doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Navigator’s (7716 vs. 6200 pounds).

The GLS’ 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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Navigator doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Navigator doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

When the GLS 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’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The GLS 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.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Navigator doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the Navigator because it costs $63 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLS than the Navigator, including $560 less for a timing belt/chain and $66 less for a power steering pump.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third 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 Mercedes GLS outsold the Lincoln Navigator by 37% during 2023.