Compare the2027 Lincoln Navigator VS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

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 Grand Cherokee L 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.

Both the Navigator and Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Navigator and the Grand Cherokee L 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all-wheel drive.

The Lincoln Navigator weighs 506 to 1492 pounds more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	Navigator	Grand Cherokee L
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	482/259 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	400/347 lbs.

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 Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	Navigator	Grand Cherokee L
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	89
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	147 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	92
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	34 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	134	376

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

The Navigator comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Grand Cherokee L’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 Jeep covers the Grand Cherokee L. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Grand Cherokee L ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Grand Cherokee L 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 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 54 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Lincoln higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 4 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 147 more horsepower (440 vs. 293) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 116 more horsepower (440 vs. 324) and 178 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 332) than the Grand Cherokee L’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo 3.6 DOHC V6:

	Navigator	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 30 MPH	1.8 sec	2.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	8.4 sec	13.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.6 sec	4.3 sec
Quarter Mile	13.7 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102 MPH	86 MPH

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 Grand Cherokee L.

The Navigator stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Navigator	Grand Cherokee L
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Grand Cherokee L (275/50R22 vs. 265/60R18). The Navigator Reserve/Black Label’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee L (285/40R24 vs. 275/45R21).

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 Grand Cherokee L’s standard 60 series tires. The Navigator Reserve/Black Label’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Grand Cherokee L Summit’s 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 Grand Cherokee L. The Navigator Reserve/Black Label’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Grand Cherokee L Summit.

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

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 Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Navigator is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Navigator Black Label executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 (27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited (9.2 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The Navigator has 13 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee L (172.1 vs. 159.1).

The Navigator has 2.2 inches more front legroom, 4.5 inches more front hip room, 6.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 5.4 inches more rear hip room, 7.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row headroom, 13.2 inches more third row legroom, 8.5 inches more third row hip room and 12.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

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

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

	Navigator	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	60.8 cubic feet	46.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	107 cubic feet	84.6 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 Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

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

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (6200 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is only 6200 pounds. The Navigator 4WD offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1360 vs. 1210 lbs.).

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 Grand Cherokee L’s standard 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 all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Grand Cherokee L 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 Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

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 Grand Cherokee L’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’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 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 are only offered on the Grand Cherokee L Summit.

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. Jeep doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Grand Cherokee L.

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 is only available on the Grand Cherokee L Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit.

The Navigator has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats are only available on the Grand Cherokee L Summit. 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 Grand Cherokee L.

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

The Lincoln Navigator has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee L Limited/Summit.

Compared to traditional radio, the Lincoln Navigator’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

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. Only the Grand Cherokee L Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit offers wireless charging. The Navigator also offers Qi charging in the second row seat. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

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