2020 Lincoln Aviator vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, positioned between the Navigator and the compact MKC (and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair), marked a return to real vehicle names, moving away from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. This shift signaled Lincoln's effort to distinguish itself from 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 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 cabin was plush, with leather extending to areas where it wasn't necessarily needed, indicating a deep commitment to luxury. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra showcased Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, offered a bold and experimental design that was not universally appealing. The Santa Fe's grille shape, stacked front lighting elements, asymmetrical fender stampings, and oversized rear skid plate trim were points of potential controversy. Inside, the Santa Fe featured a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design with diamond-textured speaker grilles and high-contrast interior colors. While the materials quality didn't match the high-style design, with glossy plastic and unremarkable leather seat upholstery, the build quality was exceptional. The Santa Fe's interior was different and daring, appealing to those who appreciated bold design choices.

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 only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The PHEV provided a smooth driving experience with electric power at low speeds, conserving fuel and enhancing acceleration. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The driving dynamics aimed for soft refinement, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. 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 Santa Fe, with a minimum curb weight of 3,591 pounds, offered a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which was underwhelming. The preferred choice was the 2.0T trim, featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,450 rpm and 3,500 rpm. This engine provided better performance, especially at altitude. An eight-speed automatic transmission funneled power to the front wheels, with optional AWD available. The Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. The EPA rated the 2.0T front-driver at 23 mpg combined, and the test model returned 22.1 mpg. The Santa Fe offered a smooth ride, decent handling, light-effort steering, and effective brakes. The Limited trim provided a quiet highway ride with laminated windshield and front window glass. The Santa Fe handled moderate off-roading with ease but lacked driver engagement, making it more of a practical tool than a fun-to-drive vehicle.

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. Dropping the second and third rows provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. The Aviator featured some confusing controls, such as the door handles and seat adjustments. The 30-way seats with a massage function were worth the effort to learn, but the door-release function was unnecessarily complicated, raising concerns about usability in emergencies.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, a two-row SUV, offered thoughtful attention to detail with creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in cloth-seat versions. The test vehicle had eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, with additional lumbar support and an extending thigh support for the driver. The dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the air conditioning was effective even with the panoramic glass sunroof. The back seat was comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents, rear side-window sunshades, and heated bottom cushions. The Santa Fe provided 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 71.3 cubic feet, which was less than some competitors but still substantial. Large storage compartments under the cargo floor were a positive feature. The hands-free “smart” liftgate was convenient, sensing the key fob and opening automatically.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Ford Explorer's portrait layout, the Aviator's screen used a landscape layout, providing a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, offering a lot of information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's touchscreen infotainment system was user-friendly, with stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button. Every Santa Fe included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three free years of service, including remote engine starting, automatic emergency assistance, and more. The Limited trim featured a larger 8-inch display, navigation system, surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided a wealth of data, including blind-spot monitoring.

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, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SEL trim added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a safe exit assist system. The SEL Convenience Package included an ultrasonic occupant alert system, while the Limited trim featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor.