2026 Ford Expedition vs. Lincoln Navigator: Is Luxury Worth It?

• What these are: These two giant SUVs share a lot, but one is much more expensive. 
• Why this matters: You might think having a luxe badge instantly means the Lincoln will be better, but the Ford is a very complete and compelling machine. 
• Edmunds says: We find out which of these full-size SUVs meets your needs — you might find yourself surprised.

Interior and cargo space

A glance into the Navigator's cabin pegs the lux-o-meter, but the Expedition has some interesting and unexpected advantages as well. Leather upholstery is included for the first two rows on all but the least expensive trim in each lineup, and it generally gets softer and nicer as the price goes up. Lincoln uses fancier materials inside, including real wood trim. Lincoln offers its 30-way adjustable front seats, which, with some fiddling, can be adapted to any occupant. Ford offers its multi-contour seats in the Platinum's Ultimate package.

You'd reasonably expect the Lincoln to be quieter inside than the Ford, but that's not the case. While the suspension tuning of both models keeps vibrations and noise to a minimum, the tires on our test Navigator's optional 24-inch wheels transmitted a lot of road noise into the cabin. We also found the Lincoln's fans on the loud side when running at full blast.

You might also expect the more expensive model to be roomier inside, or at least as roomy as its mainstream sibling. Again, strangely, it's the other way around. There's less headroom in the Navigator's first two rows than the Expedition's due to how high the seats are perched. Legroom is nearly identical in all three rows, and it's generous even in the way back of both.

Cargo room is also plentiful whether you choose the standard-wheelbase or extended variant of either sport-utility. Compared to the Expedition, the Navigator has a little less cargo room with all rows folded, likely due to the more plush front seats taking up a bit of that space. The Expedition Max and Navigator L — which are longer than their counterparts by about a foot — add around 14 cubes to the standard-wheelbase models' totals.

Technology and safety equipment

The Expedition got a new display setup for 2025. It includes a 24-inch screen mounted high on the dash showing driver info and other items, as well as a 13.2-inch center touchscreen. That would seem like a lot ... until you climb into the Lincoln.

Navigator guests are greeted by a 48-inch interior-spanning display augmented by an 11-inch touchscreen below. Both of these systems rely on a pair of unmarked directional pads on the steering wheel spokes to control their upper screens, and they can be a bit confusing and distracting. The buttons' functions change with context, so you have to look at a control map that only appears on the display once you've put your finger on the pad.

Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving system — available on the Expedition and standard on the Navigator — can free up your thumbs and part of your brain to work the infotainment. It's one of the best hands-free, eyes-on systems on the market right now and will likely prove a boon to drivers who frequently find themselves on long interstate drives. 

Driver aids standard on both SUVs include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, evasive steering assist, lane keeping assistance, rear brake assist and a 360-degree camera system. Only the Ford comes with Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, further bolstering its towing cred.

Trims and pricing

It's time to pay for all of this. Ford has four trim levels (Active, Tremor, Platinum, King Ranch) while Lincoln has a trio (Premiere, Reserve, Black Label).

The least expensive Expedition, an Active with rear-wheel drive, starts at $65,495 including destination. Option the Expedition up with the high-output engine and four-wheel drive to match the Navi, and the bill is a minimum of $85,490 for the Platinum with the Stealth Performance package. And if you go all in on a Platinum Ultimate, you better get ready to pony up $92,610. The Navigator lineup starts with the Premiere, which has a sticker of $94,890 before options, but top-spec Black Label models start at just under $125,000. Expedition buyers can opt for the long wheelbase, on all but the Tremor, for an additional $3,000. Lincoln lets you go L on any trim level, also for $3,000. 

This means the Navigator's extra finery, even bigger screens, longer list of standard equipment, and slightly reduced headroom adds roughly $10,000 to the base price of a full-size SUV from Ford but almost $30,000 at the highest levels. That is a massive gap, and the Lincoln isn't worth all that extra money because it doesn't do as much as well as the Ford does. 

The Expedition is so complete, the Navigator is only really worth springing for if you need a luxury badge in your life. For most, we say skip the Lincoln and get the Expedition that best matches your needs. You'll save a little (or a lot of) cash and won't miss any of the Lincoln's almost unnecessary luxe amenities.