2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, setting itself apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers gave it unique front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system that welcomed owners with sequential illumination. The Navigator featured a lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights, all contributing to its distinct appearance. The Monochromatic Package added a custom touch with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Navigator exuded luxury with Dark Slate leather, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and a dashboard with mid-century modern styling cues. The panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials further enhanced its premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Sportage offered a more compact and city-friendly design. Its Euro-focused styling included a tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might describe as frog-like. The Sportage's short wheelbase and overhangs made it ideal for urban driving. Inside, the 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical controls for tuning and volume. While not as tech-forward as some of Kia's newer models, the Sportage's interior remained a pleasant place to sit, with a focus on practicality and ease of use.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the Ford Expedition's most powerful version by 50 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission managed power delivery, with options for rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, and Slippery, tailoring the driving experience to various conditions. Its towing capacity reached 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist for easier trailer maneuvering. Despite its size, the Navigator's acceleration was strong, though fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg. The SUV excelled on open roads, with excellent body motion control, but felt large in urban settings.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered a choice of engines, with the LX and EX trims featuring a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The SX Turbo trim boasted a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. All Sportage models used a six-speed automatic transmission, with options for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Fuel economy varied, with the 2.4-liter engine achieving 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined in FWD models. The Sportage's suspension provided a smooth ride, though steering and tire grip left room for improvement. The SX Turbo trim offered a more engaging driving experience, appealing to those seeking a sporty crossover.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space for passengers to stretch out. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, part of the Luxury Package, provided exceptional comfort, though finding the ideal settings took time. The Navigator offered a choice between a three-person bench or captain's chairs in the second row, with options for a center console and audio controls. Triple-zone climate control ensured comfort across all rows, and the third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was generous, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet in the standard-length model.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while smaller, offered good interior space for its size. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. This cargo capacity fell short compared to other compact crossovers.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive feature, with slow loading times. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience, with Stereo as the preferred listening profile. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard. Most trims included Kia's UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Sportage's technology was user-friendly, with logical menus and physical controls, though not groundbreaking.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability was standard on the Reserve trim. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, and the lane-keeping assistance system was effective. The SUV received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though its rollover resistance rating was three stars with RWD.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive list of standard ADAS features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage earned Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS for its upgraded headlights and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.