2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a significant departure from its predecessors, which often resembled dressed-up Ford Expeditions. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique design features, including a distinctive turn signal stalk. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded luxury and elegance, convincing even those accustomed to high-end brands like Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover of its worth. The exterior design featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and tasteful chrome accents, making it a standout in any setting. The Pristine White model, with its black wheels and illuminated Lincoln logo, was particularly striking during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Inside, the Navigator impressed with seven color palettes and a focus on finer details. The Slate Gray interior of the test model showcased layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were of high quality, and the panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims offered even more luxurious textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 different ways, provided unparalleled comfort. While the Navigator's interior was spacious and refined, it lacked some of the advanced features found in competitors like the Range Rover, which could be more sumptuous but at a significantly higher price.

The 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, priced at $28,045, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, and additional body cladding. The Seltos' design was appealing, though the headlights and intricate wheels received mixed reviews. Inside, the Seltos displayed a good sense of style with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of hard plastic detracted from the overall feel, making the interior look cheaper than it was. Despite this, the build quality was excellent, and the controls were logically arranged, making the Seltos easy to live with daily.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a powerful twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, made the Navigator feel surprisingly sprightly for its size. The 4WD system was smooth and responsive, and the towing capacity was impressive, with 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, consistent with the EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. The adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but the suspension felt rudimentary compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator's steering and brakes lacked the precision and control found in the Escalade, but the overall refinement and power made it a comfortable and luxurious highway cruiser.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and a more satisfying turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, made the Seltos more engaging to drive. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the suspension tuning was the least appealing aspect of the Seltos, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. Despite these issues, the Seltos felt lively in urban environments and offered good grip on smooth corners. The AWD system, with a Lock function, provided surefootedness in light off-roading conditions and snowstorms.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space, with the capacity to house six adults comfortably. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children, and the second-row captain's chairs could be replaced with a bench for a total of eight passengers. The cargo space was generous, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and 103 in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage space. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, a convenient feature for loading and unloading. The Navigator Reserve featured heated rear second-row seats and a three-zone climate control system. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with numerous settings for optimal support. However, parking the Navigator was challenging due to its size, despite the 360-degree cameras.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior that was easy to live with daily. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, allowing for a comfortable driving position. The front passenger seat was not height-adjustable but provided proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition included cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, a single-zone automatic climate control system, and heated front seats. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. The cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, making the Seltos practical for everyday use.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to the advanced displays in competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator's infotainment system was intuitive, sharing its basic interface with Ford vehicles but with a unique Lincoln skin. The system was a bit slow in reaction, but everything was clear and easy to find. The Navigator included onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connections. However, the Navigator lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the cameras were low-resolution.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons and knobs for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating to use, and the system's purple theme color was odd. The Seltos offered several connected services, including 911 Connect and features for parents of teen drivers.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but the Navigator's system was not as advanced as competitors.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.