2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive styling, avoiding the temptation to mimic its rivals. It carried forward the sharp design language of the Navigator, characterized by crisp lines and a tasteful use of chrome. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the air of class and luxury.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT's styling was less impressive. The XRT treatment, which included side steps and a more aggressive tread pattern, did not significantly enhance its off-road capabilities. The interior, dressed in black cloth, lacked visual contrast but offered thoughtful design and high quality for its price point. The cabin featured dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning vents, and stain-resistant fabric seats, ensuring comfort for all passengers.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," suitable for highway and suburban driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for freeway speeds and cruising, it lacked the power for quick acceleration or climbing hills. The eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, and the SUV offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes. The XRT's ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin, but the engine struggled under demanding conditions.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls added to the comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. The hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate" was convenient but could open unintentionally. The rear-seat accommodations were excellent, with ample legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The front seats were comfortable, though the lack of a height-adjustable front passenger seat was a drawback.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display provided clear and easy-to-read information. The system's landscape format and redundant controls made it user-friendly.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth and satellite radio, were standard. The infotainment system was simple to use, with large knobs and clean on-screen graphics. The digital key technology and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system added convenience and safety.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT also came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Junction Turning Detection system and Safe Exit Assist added extra layers of safety. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.