Compare the2025 Lincoln Navigator LVS 2025 Mercedes GLS

Both the Navigator L and the GLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Navigator L 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Navigator L’s warranty.

The Navigator L 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 GLS 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 L’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 65 more horsepower (440 vs. 375) and 141 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 369) than the GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Navigator L gets better mileage than the GLS:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Navigator L uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLS requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Navigator L has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLS (27.8 vs. 23.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Navigator L 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 GLS doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Navigator L, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the GLS.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator L has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the GLS. The Navigator L Black Label’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 23-inch wheels optional on the GLS.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator L’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the GLS (131.5 inches vs. 123.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Navigator L is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GLS.

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

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

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

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Navigator L 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 GLS doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

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

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLS is limited to 7700 pounds. The Navigator L offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator L 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 L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLS can’t be towed flat on the ground.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Navigator L, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLS.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Navigator L’s exterior PIN entry system. The GLS doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Navigator L has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLS only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Navigator L has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLS.

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

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Mercedes GLS by 23% during 2024.