Ford Expedition vs Lincoln Navigator
Summary
Identical where it usually matters: 36.5 in of third-row legroom, 37.4 in of third-row headroom, 21.6 cu ft behind the third row and 60.8 behind the second — the same numbers on both spec sheets. Both seat eight.
The Expedition is measurably ahead on two axes: 9,600 lb of towing against 8,700, and 108.5 cu ft of maximum cargo against 107. It also has more front and second-row legroom, 43.9 and 41.1 against 43.5 and 40.9.
The Expedition runs $62,700 to $84,360; the Navigator $91,995 to $119,525. The ladders never overlap. Third-row safety records are identical: two LATCH lower-anchor positions, three tethers, curtain coverage verified on both.
The numbers, side by side
| Spec | Ford Expedition | Lincoln Navigator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| MSRP range | $62,700 – $84,360 | $91,995 – $119,525 |
| Space | ||
| Row 1 legroom | 43.9" | 43.5" |
| Row 2 legroom | 41.1" | 40.9" |
| Row 3 legroom | 36.5" | 36.5" |
| Row 3 headroom | 37.4" | 37.4" |
| Cargo behind row 3 | 21.6 cu ft | 21.6 cu ft |
| Cargo behind row 2 | 60.8 cu ft | 60.8 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 108.5 cu ft | 107 cu ft |
| Exterior | ||
| Length | 209.9" | 210" |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 80" | 80" |
| Height | 78.1" | 78" |
| Capability | ||
| Max towing | 9,600 lbs | 8,700 lbs |
| Seating | ||
| Max seats | 8 | 8 |
| Second row | Captain’s chairs or bench | Captain’s chairs or bench |
The third row is the same third row
Both publish 36.5 in of third-row legroom and 37.4 in of third-row headroom, and both publish 21.6 cu ft behind that row. On the dimensions this site exists to measure, the step-up buys nothing — which is worth saying plainly, because the assumption in this class runs the other way.
The child-seat hardware matches too: two LATCH lower-anchor positions and three top tethers in the third row on each, with curtain coverage verified in prose on both sides.
Where the Ford is actually ahead
Towing: 9,600 lb against 8,700. Maximum cargo: 108.5 cu ft against 107. Front-row legroom: 43.9 in against 43.5. Second-row legroom: 41.1 in against 40.9. None of those gaps is dramatic, but they all point the same way, and the cheaper vehicle holds every one of them.
So what does the Navigator buy?
Not third-row space, not cargo, not towing. What the $29,295 buys is the Lincoln cabin, the trim ladder that runs to $119,525, and the badge — real purchases, but not ones a spec table can price, and this site does not rate materials or refinement because it cannot verify them the way it verifies a dimension.
That is the honest shape of this comparison: if the reason to step up is the third row, the numbers say the step-up is already in the Ford showroom.
Price
$62,700 to $84,360 against $91,995 to $119,525. A loaded Expedition still undercuts a base Navigator by $7,635, so there is no trim at which the two meet at the same money.
For the mainstream full-size cross-shop instead, see Tahoe vs Expedition; for the luxury pair, Escalade vs Navigator.
When each one fits
Ford Expedition: The same third row, more towing, marginally more cargo and front-row space, and $29,295 back at the floor.
Lincoln Navigator: The Lincoln interior and a trim ceiling the Ford never reaches. Pick it for the cabin you sit in, not for the row behind it.
Compare legroom yourself
Find your match
Six questions, deterministic scoring, top three matches across the full directory.
Take the quizWill you fit either third row?
Open the fit estimator preloaded with the Ford Expedition and check both models against your height.
Best family 3-row for towing
The guide lens closest to this pairing — the whole cohort re-sorted on that axis, answer stated up top.
Deciding across the whole segment, not just these models? See Best Family 3-Row SUVs and Best Luxury 3-Row SUVs — every published model, ranked from verified specs. A cross-segment pairing gets both rankings, because neither one alone covers the models on this page.