2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair, in the Lincoln lineup. The Aviator showcased Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names, a positive shift from its previous alphabet-soup naming convention. The Aviator's design was unified with Lincoln's new look, featuring handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille. Its roofline tapered slightly, giving it an elongated appearance, while the low, wide beltline added a boat-like look. Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, and the shifter buttons had a piano-key design. The front seats were incredibly comfortable, using plush leather throughout, even in areas where it wasn't necessary, indicating a deep commitment to luxury. The Aviator also featured a massive panoramic moonroof and unique warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing Lincoln's holistic approach to luxury.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV with a styling blend of mild and wild. The front featured a busy look with a grille flanked by lighting features, additional lights above, and fog lights beneath for some trims. This playful design targeted younger buyers. The rear had a more subdued, standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona's interior mirrored its exterior's fun attitude without being too whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather on the steering wheel and seats. The well-organized interior featured an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive, fitting well with the Kona's compact interior.

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 V6 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 smooth, confident acceleration and conserved fuel. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective. The driving experience was refined, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. The Aviator had an "Excite" drive mode for a more dynamic feel, 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, a 21-mile electric-only range, and a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent combined rating.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine produced 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available for an additional $1,400. While neither engine was exceptionally powerful, both provided ample power for city and highway driving. The dual-clutch transmission in the turbo model was less graceful at low speeds but smoothed out at higher speeds. The Kona handled confidently, feeling agile and engaging, with enough comfort and composure for curvy roads. Fuel economy for the FWD base engine was 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD version achieved 25/30/27 mpg. The turbo engine with FWD delivered 28/32/30 mpg, and the AWD version achieved 26/29/27 mpg.

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 had 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. The door-release function was 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.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with the optional sunroof not significantly reducing headroom. All controls and displays were within easy reach, and the front seats were wide and well-padded but could use more support. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The large rear door openings made loading and unloading children easier, though large rear-facing car seats could cause issues for taller front passengers. The Kona had limited cargo space, only beating the Mazda CX-3 in its segment. The rear seats folded to expand the cargo area, and small-item storage spaces were generous and conveniently located, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

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 conventional 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 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system 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 system. Hyundai's infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate without requiring several clicks to change settings or access features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trims, bringing navigation, streaming audio, and voice controls to every model.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator included standard safety features such as front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite provided forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety tech included blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 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.