2019 Kia Sorento vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2019 Kia Sorento was an attractive SUV, featuring updated styling with revised front and rear bumpers, a new grille, and redesigned headlights and taillights. The SX Limited trim, which was the top-tier option, showcased premium touches like Nappa leather upholstery and metallic accents. However, despite these upgrades, the interior still had some inexpensive plastic surfaces that felt out of place in a nearly $50,000 vehicle.

In contrast, the 2020 Lincoln Navigator exuded luxury with its chrome detailing and unique design elements like the Lincoln Embrace lighting system. The Navigator's interior was spacious and opulent, especially with the optional Luxury Package that included 30-way Perfect Position front seats. High-quality materials and mid-century modern styling cues added to its premium feel, making it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

For 2019, the Kia Sorento offered two engine choices: a standard 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and an available 290-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6. The V6 engine provided smooth power and quick acceleration, paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento also featured multiple driving modes and optional all-wheel drive with Torque Vectoring Cornering Control for improved handling. During testing, the Sorento SX Limited returned 20.7 mpg, close to its EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with a single engine option: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered multiple drive modes tailored to various driving conditions. The Navigator's towing capacity was impressive, with a maximum of 8,700 pounds for rear-wheel drive models. However, its fuel economy was less stellar, averaging 16.4 mpg during testing. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension and body motion control provided a hint of athleticism, though it was best suited for open roads.

The 2019 Kia Sorento was a 3-row, 7-passenger SUV, but its third-row seat was best suited for emergency use due to its limited accessibility and lack of comfort. As a 5-passenger SUV, the Sorento offered more practical cargo space, expanding from 11.3 cubic feet to 73 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The SX Limited trim featured luxurious touches like Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, rear-seat comfort was less impressive due to tight legroom and a flat bottom cushion.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row captain's chairs with a large center console added to the luxury. The Navigator's third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support, making it comfortable for most passengers. Cargo volumes were also impressive, with the standard-length model offering up to 103.3 cubic feet of space, and the longer Navigator L providing up to 120.2 cubic feet.

The 2019 Kia Sorento featured three infotainment systems depending on the trim level. The base system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered UVO eServices with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The SX Limited trim also included a 360-degree surround-view camera system, making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was less impressive, taking time to load content. However, it included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and "Phone As A Key" technology. The Reserve trim's Luxury Package added a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, providing a compelling audio experience. 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 2019 Kia Sorento was a safe choice, with most trims offering advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. New for 2019 were lane-keeping assist and a driver-attention-monitoring system. The Sorento received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came standard with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a blind-spot warning system. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, and the lane-keeping assistance was subtle yet effective. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though its rollover resistance rating was just three stars for RWD models. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.