2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that blended mild and wild styling. Its front grille was flanked by lighting features, with additional lights above and fog lights below on some trims. This busy look leaned more towards playful than business, appealing to younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued, featuring a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being too whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The well-organized interior featured a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive.

In the ‘fixing what wasn’t broken’ department, Lincoln made subtle styling changes to the 2022 Navigator. New headlights and taillights debuted, along with different wheel designs, including a standard 20-inch option. The Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence was updated, and the SUV’s front end was restyled. The new front end featured an Audi-esque grille with the Lincoln star and chrome detailing, which resulted in less elegance and presence than before. Despite this, the rest of the Navigator’s updates for 2022 were successful. Inside, the Navigator dazzled with quality materials and mid-century modern design, featuring Lincoln’s Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, digital instrumentation, and widescreen HUD kept the Navigator competitive in the display size race. The Navigator continued in standard and long-wheelbase styles with Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, starting at $78,405. The Black Label trim in Central Park theme featured a green interior with luxurious second-row captain’s chairs, bringing the total sticker price to $106,530.

Hyundai offered two powertrain options for the 2021 Kona. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbo engine had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,400. Both engines provided ample power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission was less graceful at low speeds. The Kona handled with confidence, offering a fun and engaging driving experience. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD returning 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with AWD delivering 26/29/27 mpg.

The 2022 Navigator retained its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel or four-wheel drive options. The V6 produced a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, with a pleasing note under acceleration. Towing capacity ranged from 8,100 to 8,700 pounds, depending on wheelbase and drivetrain. The Navigator’s adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview identified and prepared for road imperfections, ensuring a smooth ride. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response. During testing, the Navigator effortlessly climbed past the snow line and handled various driving conditions with ease. Fuel economy for the 4WD model was 18 mpg combined, with the test vehicle averaging 18.6 mpg.

Front-seat passengers in the 2021 Hyundai Kona enjoyed decent headroom and legroom, with an optional sunroof that didn’t significantly reduce headroom. Controls and displays were easily accessible, and the front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The large rear door openings facilitated loading and unloading children, though large rear-facing car seats could be problematic. The Kona’s cargo space was limited, with only the Mazda CX-3 offering less in its segment. However, small-item storage spaces were generous and conveniently located.

The 2022 Navigator’s 30-way power-adjustable front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The second-row captain’s chairs also offered heating, ventilation, and massaging features, making long trips comfortable. Third-row passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations on a supportive seat, with the Navigator’s independent rear suspension design providing comfort since 2005. Storage and cargo space were generous, with the long-wheelbase Navigator L offering even more room. The Navigator carried 19.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second row collapsed. The Navigator L offered even more space, with 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Hyundai’s infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and access features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trims.

The 2022 Navigator featured a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, replacing the previous 10.1-inch screen. The new system offered two data panels for simultaneous viewing of navigation and music details. Physical controls for volume, stereo tuning, and climate functions were retained, with clear markings and a matte finish for easy use. Sync 4 supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with a user-friendly interface similar to modern smartphones. The voice recognition system was improved but not perfect, with over-the-air updates potentially fine-tuning it further. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system included Amazon Fire TV, providing access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. The test vehicle also featured a new 28-speaker Revel 3D high-end audio system, delivering sensational sound quality.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with "Good" scores in all crash test areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced several new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system became standard. Intersection Assist could automatically brake during unsafe movements, while Road Edge Detection steered the SUV away from road edges. Active Park Assist 2.0 took complete control for parking, and ActiveGlide provided semi-autonomous, hands-free driving on approved highways. ActiveGlide performed well on straight, dry, sunny stretches but required driver attention for potential threats. These systems represented steps toward fully autonomous driving but emphasized the importance of driver responsibility.