There's nothing inherently wrong with the new Lincoln Navigator that would make me say someone shouldn't buy one. If the looks grab you, then it makes perfect sense. If you're remotely on the fence about picking the Escalade, the near-$10,000 difference in price between the $45,755 Navigator and the $54,500 Escalade could be the difference, though many drivers would be just as happy with a Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition for $35,575 as with a luxury SUV.

If price and value were the only requirements, the Navigator and Escalade wouldn't even exist. Some buyers want to make a statement with their SUV, and in that way the Navigator certainly rises above the luxury competition without sapping the kids' college fund. If the wallet isn't a factor, the Escalade still wins the all-American Blingmobile prize.