Compare the2027 Lincoln Navigator VS 2026 Audi Q7

Both the Navigator and the Q7 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all-wheel drive.

The Lincoln Navigator weighs 525 to 1067 pounds more than the Audi Q7. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Audi Q7:

	Navigator	Q7
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	61/46 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	44%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Audi Q7:

	Navigator	Q7
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	187
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	350 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	337
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	888 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	290

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Navigator 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 40 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Navigator’s warranty.

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 Q7 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’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 179 more horsepower (440 vs. 261) and 237 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 273) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (440 vs. 335) and 141 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 369) than the Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Navigator uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Q7 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Navigator has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q7 (23.6 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Q7 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Navigator higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi Q7 (4). This means the Navigator produces up to 5.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q7 every 15,000 miles.

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 Q7.

The Navigator stops shorter than the Q7:

	Navigator	Q7
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Q7 (275/50R22 vs. 255/55R19).

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 Q7’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q7. The Navigator Reserve/Black Label’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Q7.

The Lincoln Navigator’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi Q7 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Navigator has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

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 Q7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Q7 (122.5 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Navigator is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Q7.

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q7 (9.2 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Navigator uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q7 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Navigator offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Q7 can only carry 7.

The Navigator has 1.8 inches more front legroom, 5.8 inches more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, 6.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.5 inches more third row headroom, 14.3 inches more third row legroom and 14.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Navigator’s middle and third row seats recline. The Q7’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 Q7 doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

The Navigator’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

	Navigator	Q7
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	13.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	60.8 cubic feet	35.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	107 cubic feet	68.1 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 Q7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The Navigator’s cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in almost every dimension:

	Navigator	Q7
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/48”/86.8”	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”
Max Width	51.5”	52.5”
Min Width	51”	42.6”
Height	37”	30”

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Navigator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Q7 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Navigator’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q7’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q7’s (6200 vs. 4409 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q7 is only 7716 pounds. The Navigator 4WD offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator 4WD 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 can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Q7 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Navigator uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q7 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Q7 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE 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 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Q7’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Navigator’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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. Audi doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Q7.

The Navigator Reserve/Black Label has standard front air conditioned seats and the Navigator offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q7 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Navigator 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 Q7.

The Navigator has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats are only available on the Q7 Prestige. The Navigator Reserve/Black Label also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the Q7.

The Navigator’s standard oscillating air vents move back and forth and distribute air evenly inside the vehicle, making everyone more comfortable. The Q7 doesn’t offer oscillating vents.

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 Q7. The Navigator also offers Qi charging in the second row seat. The Q7 doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

The Navigator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Navigator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Lincoln Navigator retains 40.85% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 39.15% resale value of the 2026 Audi Q7 after five years, which can save the Lincoln’s owner.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Navigator as the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. The Q7 has never been chosen.

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by 21% during 2025.