2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a piano button shifter. The soothing chimes and massaging front seats added to the air of class and comfort.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line package, offered a rugged and stylish appearance with matte-finish wheels, black cladding, and robust roof rails. Our test vehicle, equipped with the X-Line package, featured a luxurious interior with Rust-colored leather, a 14-way power driver’s seat, and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were designed with kids in mind, offering various storage solutions and USB ports. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable for adults, and the cargo space was limited to 12.6 cubic feet with all seats up.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. 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, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator offered smooth acceleration and a drive mode selector with options like "Excite" and "Conserve," but it struggled with body roll in corners and tight maneuvering.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's base engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which took nearly 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. The more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, available from the EX trim, generated 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Sorento with AWD could accelerate to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. Despite the X-Line’s raised suspension, the Sorento handled like a sports sedan, offering excellent body motion control and a smooth ride. However, its fuel economy was lower than expected, averaging around 20.7 mpg.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 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 added to the comfort and functionality. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about potential issues if the battery died.

The 2022 Kia Sorento’s interior felt luxurious, with a 14-way power driver’s seat and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults, and cargo space was limited to 12.6 cubic feet with all seats up, expandable to 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second row down. The smart power tailgate was convenient but could open unintentionally.

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 layout and functionality of the infotainment system were user-friendly, with large icons for connectivity programs.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, except for the base LX trim, came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, and Kia Connect services. The infotainment system was feature-rich but required a cable for smartphone integration. The SX Prestige X-Line trim included a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. However, the voice recognition system was less effective than Hyundai’s.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured the Kia Drive Wise package, with varying contents depending on the trim. Our test vehicle included advanced features like a rear-seat reminder system, Junction Assist, and a Blind View Monitor. The Highway Driving Assist technology provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. The Sorento earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.