Compare the2025 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2025 Dodge Durango

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Navigator 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 Dodge Durango doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 Durango doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Durango 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.

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

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

The Navigator’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Durango.

The Navigator has a standard 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango 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.

Both the Navigator and Durango have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Navigator has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Durango’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The Navigator’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Durango doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Navigator and the Durango have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Lincoln Navigator weighs 616 to 1054 pounds more than the Dodge Durango. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The Navigator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Durango’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Navigator 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Dodge covers the Durango. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Durango ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Navigator has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Durango.

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 run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Durango doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. With 77 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Dodge.

Engine

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 145 more horsepower (440 vs. 295) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 260) than the Durango’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 80 more horsepower (440 vs. 360) and 120 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 390) than the Durango’s optional 5.7 V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Navigator
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	15 city/22 hwy
Durango
	RWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

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

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Navigator higher (6 out of 10) than the Dodge Durango (4 to 6). This means the Navigator produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Durango every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Navigator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Durango.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Durango (275/50R22 vs. 265/60R18).

The Navigator’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Durango GT’s standard 60 series tires. The Navigator Black Label’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Durango GT. The Navigator Black Label’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Durango.

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

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Navigator flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’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 Durango doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the Durango (122.5 inches vs. 119.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Navigator is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango.

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Durango (8.9 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Navigator uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Durango doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Navigator offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Durango can only carry 7.

The Navigator has 30.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Durango (172.1 vs. 141.4).

The Navigator has 3.2 inches more front legroom, 4.9 inches more front hip room, 6.8 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 6.2 inches more rear hip room, 7.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 10 inches more third row legroom, 9 inches more third row hip room and 13.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

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

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Navigator when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the tailgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Durango doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Navigator	Durango
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	60.8 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	107 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

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 Durango’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

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

	Navigator	Durango
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/48”/86.8”	20”/50”/83”
Max Width	51.5”	49”
Min Width	51”	42.5”
Height	37”	36”

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises 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 Durango doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Navigator’s tailgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Durango, the Navigator has standard driver and 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’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Durango.

The Navigator’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Navigator’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Navigator the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Durango can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Durango doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Navigator’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Durango doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Navigator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Durango’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Navigator has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Navigator also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Lincoln Navigator has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Durango.

The Navigator has standard heated front, second and third row seats (third row heated seats on Black Label), which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Dodge doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Durango.

The Navigator has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Durango doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Navigator offers optional massaging front and rear seats (rear massaging seats standard on Black Label). Massaging seats aren’t available in the Durango.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Navigator has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Durango. The Navigator also offers Qi charging in the second row seat. The Durango doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

Recommendations

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

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