2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe defied expectations with its pricing. Typically, new vehicles seem overpriced, but the Santa Fe made you question why it didn't cost more. With its redesigned front end, new running lights, and reworked grille, the Santa Fe presented a unique character for each trim level. Inside, the Santa Fe moved upmarket with new colors, patterns, and textures, along with a high-tech 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with its premium leather and panoramic glass sunroof, making it feel like a steal at $43,590.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator made subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and a restyled front end. The new grille, reminiscent of a 2006 Audi A4, was a rare misstep, but the rest of the updates were successful. Inside, the Navigator dazzled with quality materials and a mid-century modern design, featuring Lincoln’s Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display and a 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system added to the luxury experience. The Navigator Black Label, with its Central Park theme and Manhattan Green paint, offered a truly premium feel at $106,530.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains. The SE and SEL trims came with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrids featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, producing a total of 226 hp. The Limited and Calligraphy trims boasted a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe's driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Smart, with the latter focusing on fuel efficiency. The turbocharged engine delivered impressive performance, with a combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator retained its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 8,100 to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview and the new electronic brake booster improved ride quality and braking response. The Navigator handled various driving conditions with ease, including snow and mud, thanks to its four-wheel drive and 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The Navigator 4WD achieved an average fuel economy of 18.6 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comfortable and spacious interior, especially for those who didn't need a third-row seat. The Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather, a suede-like headliner, and quilted stitching, providing a luxurious feel. The rear seat was spacious and comfortable, with air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, and rear side-window sunshades. The Santa Fe's cargo space measured 36.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator continued to impress with its 30-way power-adjustable front seats, which were heated, ventilated, and massaging. The second-row captain’s chairs also offered heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The third-row seat provided ample space and comfort, thanks to the independent rear suspension design. The Navigator's cargo space was generous, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 103.3 cubic feet with the second row collapsed. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display. The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system offered wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, upgraded voice-recognition technology, and enhanced Blue Link connected services. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system provided excellent audio quality. Blue Link included features like remote engine start, climate control adjustment, and seat heating or ventilation activation. However, the Santa Fe lacked a WiFi hotspot.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system offered two data panels for simultaneous viewing of navigation and music details. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system included Amazon Fire TV, providing access to streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered sensational sound quality. The Navigator's voice recognition system was improved but still had room for further fine-tuning.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive array of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance, Safe Exit Assist, and a rear-occupant alert system. The Blind-Spot View Monitor and Highway Driving Assist added to the SUV's safety credentials. The Santa Fe earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS when equipped with LED projector headlights.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. The surround-view camera system became standard. ActiveGlide, Lincoln's semi-autonomous driving technology, performed well on approved highways but required the driver to remain attentive. The Navigator's safety features aimed to enhance driver confidence and reduce stress, though complete trust in the technology was still a work in progress.