2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Corsair), showcased Lincoln's return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift was a positive sign, indicating Lincoln's unique identity rather than mimicking imports. The Aviator featured a unified design across Lincoln's lineup, with handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its tapering roofline and low, wide beltline gave it an elongated, almost boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, showcasing Lincoln's commitment to luxury. The Aviator also had unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, emphasizing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, larger than the Ford EcoSport, looked exciting with its sleek, sporty, and dramatic exterior. Despite being several inches shorter than its competitors, Hyundai exploited the Kona's tiny footprint to create a visually stimulating design. The tiered lighting up front, tall grille, and chunky matte plastic trim made the Kona appear taller and wider. Slim LED running lamps, headlights spaced to the car's edges, and optional fog lights created a striking effect. The fender creases, black trim, and two-tone wheels added to its premium vibe. However, the interior couldn't match the exterior's emotion or quality. Hard plastics and lackluster finishes pervaded the plain cabin. While the buttons and screens were high-res and the layout acceptable, the fit and finish were steps below competitors like the CX-30, C-HR, and HR-V. The Kona's interior felt less refined, which might disappoint those who loved its exterior design.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trim combined this engine with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 offering rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was AWD. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided hushed, confident acceleration and smoothed out the driving experience with its electric power at low speeds. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned but effective. The driving dynamics aimed for soft refinement, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The Aviator had an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic experience, but its 5,600-pound weight limited its sportiness. Fuel economy for the RWD Aviator was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 combined, while the AWD version achieved 17, 24, 20. The PHEV had a combined 23 mpg, with a 21-mile electric-only range and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona's standout feature was its 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), provided strong acceleration and confidence when merging onto highways. The DCT was fast to react, making the Kona's driving experience satisfying. However, only the Limited and Ultimate trims came with the turbo engine. The standard engine was a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both engines offered optional AWD with torque vectoring. The Kona's engines were noisy and the cabin less insulated, making the driving experience loud compared to more refined competitors. The ride was stiffer, but the Kona excelled on twisty roads with its fast steering, tight suspension, and minimal roll. AWD models had an independent rear suspension, enhancing handling. Fuel economy for the 1.6T AWD was 26 mpg city, 29 highway, 27 combined, while the 2.0 AWD achieved 26/30/28. FWD models offered up to 33 mpg highway.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Land Rover Discovery, and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain's chairs were fantastic, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. With the second and third rows folded, the Aviator offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. However, the Aviator's controls were somewhat confusing. The seats had complicated controls, with only half accessible from the door-mounted panel, requiring the center touchscreen for full adjustments. The door-release function was also unconventional, with a button instead of a handle, which could be confusing for passengers. A manual door release was available but only for the driver's door, raising concerns in emergency situations.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona struggled with interior space, offering seating for four with average rear headroom and legroom. However, its cargo space was limited, with 19 cubic feet and 46 with the rear seats folded. Competitors like the Honda HR-V, Buick Encore GX, and Jeep Renegade offered significantly more cargo space. The Kona's cramped interior made it less practical for carrying passengers and luggage. Despite its easy-to-use controls, fast infotainment system, and good sightlines, the Kona fell short as a utility vehicle. Its exterior dimensions were similar to competitors, but it lacked the interior space to match. The base SE trim didn't come with side rails for roof storage, further limiting its utility.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen in a landscape layout, providing a user-friendly interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display offered a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona, except for the base SE, came with a good list of standard features. The SE had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but higher trims offered more. The SEL added proximity entry, auto/up down windows, and more. The SEL Plus included wireless charging, an eight-way power driver's seat, and an eight-speaker Infinity stereo. The Limited had leather upholstery, while the Ultimate featured a sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, and adaptive cruise control. The Kona's infotainment system was simple and fast, with good sightlines from the driver's seat.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with standard safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display were also included.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona scored five out of five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests and was rated a 2020 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. It had standard forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. However, pedestrian detection was only available on the Ultimate trim, and the Kona lacked front knee airbags or rear side airbags.