The 2009 Lincoln Navigator

The Navigator benefits from a fully independent rear suspension and technology aimed at reducing noise and vibration. This makes it a smooth and quiet ride. The Navigator offers plenty of protection and comes well equipped with safety features, including full-cabin head-protecting airbags, electronic stability control and a rollover protection system.  It is available with either rear-wheel drive (2WD) or electronically engaged four-wheel drive (4WD) that can be driven on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. A Class III trailer hitch is standard.  The Lincoln Navigator 4x2 and Navigator 4x4 come with features expected in the luxury class. Two second-row captain's chairs and a third-row bench seat are also standard, and a second-row split bench seat is available at no charge. For 2009, the front seats add a standard heating and cooling feature, and power-folding third-row seat and power lift gate come standard.

Other standard features include a high-watt stereo with six-CD changer, 14 speakers and auxiliary input jack, three-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat fan and controls, leather-and-wood steering wheel with audio and climate controls, 10-way adjustable front seats, power-adjustable pedals, keyless entry keypad, remote keyless entry, front seat position memory, power-deploying running boards, roof rack, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, power-folding mirrors with memory, fog lamps, and 255/70R18 tires on alloy wheels.

The Navigator's standard safety features are superb. They include dual-stage front airbags, front occupant side-impact airbags and curtain-style head protection airbags for all outboard seats. The curtain bags feature a rollover sensor. All Navigators are equipped with Lincoln's AdvanceTrac anti-skid stability program. This system features Roll Stability Control, which uses a gyroscopic roll-rate sensor to enhance rollover resistance. Four-channel antilock brakes (ABS), rear obstacle detection and a tire pressure monitor also are standard. The Navigator L is nearly 15 inches longer than the standard model, extending its full length to almost 19 feet. The Navigator's basic shape is clean, with an unusually neat profile for such a big vehicle. The available Monochromatic Limited Edition Package extends the body color to the lower grille, upper chrome grille, lower body side cladding and side mirrors. The lamps light when the doors are unlocked with the remote key fob, and cast a nice circle of visibility around the doors.  The rear suspension helps keep the rear tires pressed to the pavement on bumpy surfaces, eliminating most of that skipping feeling familiar in trucks with solid rear axles.

The 2009 Infinity QX56

The engine of the QX56 has lots of power and torque, making it an excellent choice among full-size SUVs for towing a heavy trailer while hauling seven or eight passengers in luxurious comfort. It is rated to tow 8,900-9,000 pounds.  Out on the highway, the QX56 is smooth and quiet, benefiting from a four-wheel independent suspension and a smooth five-speed automatic transmission. It comes standard with a navigation system, an optional feature on many vehicles.The 2008 Infiniti QX56 comes as one fully loaded model. The two choices are two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive system includes a low range. 

Leather-trimmed upholstery is standard. Also standard is a dual-zone automatic climate control with manual rear controls, heated, power-tilting, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, heated first- and second-row bucket seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals, memory for the driver's seat, mirrors, and pedals, and a 60/40 split power-folding 3rd-row bench seat.  The features continue to inlcude heated power auto-dimming exterior mirrors; power windows and locks; remote keyless entry; keyless access and starting; sunroof; Bose AM/FM/CD stereo with 12 speakers and rear controls; Music Box hard-drive audio; auxiliary audio input jack; satellite radio; rearview camera; Bluetooth wireless cell phone link; universal garage door opener; auto-dimming rearview mirror; power lift gate; automatic xenon headlights; theft-deterrent system; fog lights; roof rack; running boards; load-leveling suspension; and P275/60R20 tires on chrome alloy wheels.

Options include a Technology package with adaptive cruise control and front park assist; a second-row middle split bench seat in place of the standard two captain's chairs (no charge); a DVD rear entertainment system; and painted fender splash guards. Side-impact airbags are provided for torso protection for the front-seat passengers. Also standard are a tire pressure monitor, antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, traction control, and electronic stability. Since 2008, 20-inch wheels became standard, in place of 18-inch wheels. The Infiniti's interior has a second row that is particularly roomy. The leather-trimmed front seats are plush, and nicely bolstered with adjustable inboard armrests. This full-size SUV handles quite well for such a big vehicle. The QX56 features four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The antilock brake system is barely felt when called upon and allows the driver to maintain steering control under hard braking.  The Infiniti QX56 also offers exceptionally good off-road capability.


Summary

The 2009 Lincoln Navigator is a full-size sport-utility vehicle that is relatively smooth, quiet and enormous both inside and out. It comes equipped with lots of safety features and nearly all the luxury as expected. One of the big advantages is the view from the driver's seat. There are few other vehicles that are at your height.  The Navigator has an interior that is as big or bigger inside than any luxury-class sport-utility vehicle. Overall, it is built as a truck, on a pickup-style ladder frame, with a separate body bolted to that frame, rather than welded into one unit. But unlike most truck-based vehicles, the Navigator features a fully independent rear suspension, and this accounts for a smoother drive. The Lincoln Navigator is simply roomy and luxurious. It's capable of towing nearly 9,000 pounds.  There is a full-size third-row seat, seating for up to eight passengers, and plenty of cargo space. It has an MSRP of $51,130 - $54,030, and the fuel economy range is 20 mpg Hwy, 14 mpg City.  There is a basic warranty of 48 months/50,000 miles.  The Infiniti QX56 is a full-size SUV, designed for towing a heavy trailer, and hauling lots of passengers.  It offers luxurious comfort, and is off-road capable. The QX56 is based on the full-size Nissan Titan pickup.  It is very roomy, and its interior space is comparable to that of the Lincoln Navigator, its most direct competitor.  It has an MSRP of  $55,050 - $58,150, and a basic warranty of 48 months/60,000 miles.  The fuel economy range is 18 mpg Hwy, 12 mpg City.  The Lincoln Navigator has a slight advantage with price and fuel consumption.