2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of emulating competitors' styles. It carried forward the sharp and elegant design language of the Navigator, characterized by crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin with a focus on comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a prominent 10.1-inch touchscreen. The unique piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride impressed with its muscular design and balanced proportions, maintaining its handsome appearance with only minor updates to the grille and new badges. The interior was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents and USB ports in the front seatbacks. The Telluride's cabin, especially in the SX Prestige trim, exuded a sense of luxury with Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner, making it feel like a more expensive vehicle.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with an electric-only range of 21 miles. The Aviator provided smooth acceleration and a comfortable ride, though its long wheelbase made maneuvering in tight spaces challenging. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, provided a satisfying driving experience. The eight-speed automatic transmission and available AWD with Lock mode ensured good performance on various terrains. The Telluride's ride quality was supple, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system enhancing handling. It offered Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, and the SX trim featured 20-inch wheels for added grip. The Telluride achieved an EPA fuel economy estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim, offered captain's chairs and a digital control panel for added comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Kia Telluride excelled in balancing form and function, with an interior that was both upscale and practical. It featured thoughtful details like grab handles, overhead air vents, and USB ports in the front seatbacks. The Telluride offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The Smart Power Liftgate and folding seats made it easy to load and transport items.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's landscape format and redundant controls made it user-friendly. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Kia Telluride made its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, including navigation and voice recognition. However, it lost wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, requiring a wire. Kia Connect provided connected services, including emergency assistance and remote features. The Telluride also offered a Quiet Mode and Driver Talk function for convenience, and the SX trim included a Harman Kardon sound system and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard driver assistance features under the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Kia Telluride prioritized safety with its Kia Drive Wise suite, offering features like forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist provided subtle assistance on highways, while Smart Cruise Control-Curve used GPS data for curve prediction. The Telluride also included Safe Exit Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. It earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS.