2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Up front, it featured Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille hiding standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and available sport combination and leather-trimmed seats on higher trims. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, rolled into 2023 without significant updates. The test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring the Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The Navigator's cabin was all black, with real wood trim panels and chrome accents. Ambient lighting from the Reserve I package added contrast and character at night. The Navigator Reserve's cabin looked upscale and used quality materials, though some chrome plastic on the switchgear failed to convey luxury.

The Navigator featured a Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV streaming capability, though it went unused by teenagers who preferred their iPhones. The test vehicle's MSRP was $104,715, including a $1,695 destination charge. The Navigator's interior was spacious and luxurious, with power-deploying running boards, 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, and roomy second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seat was comfortable for taller and larger adults. Storage space was generous, and the extended-length Navigator L model provided substantially more cargo space.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain made the Tucson more powerful than the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The Tucson offered all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option for ICE models and standard on the hybrid. Front-wheel drive Tucsons with the ICE engine had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Adding AWD reduced these figures to 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was expected to deliver 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving, averaging 15.6 mpg during testing. Drivers could choose between five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. An adaptive damping suspension with Road Preview was standard.

In Normal mode, the Navigator's ride was not agreeable, with the SUV riding like a truck over smaller cracks and bumps. Excite mode stiffened the suspension and quickened the powertrain's pulse, but had a detrimental effect on fuel efficiency. The Navigator felt smaller while driving on mountain roads, with excellent outward visibility and impressive grip from the big wheels and wide tires. However, the steering was slow and lifeless, and the nearly three-ton curb weight proved challenging for the brakes. In city and suburban driving, the Navigator's size was a liability, making parking and navigating tight spaces difficult.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also got lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with a leather-wrapped and heated version available on higher trims.

The new Tucson platform made the SUV more spacious, with more room for passengers and cargo. The rear seats offered two inches more legroom than the Toyota RAV4, and the cabin had plenty of space for a family of four. The Tucson's 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Subaru Forester, RAV4, and Honda CR-V, and bested the Ford Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat, a dual-level cargo floor (on ICE models), and a remote release for folding the rear seats from the cargo area. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. Power-deploying running boards made it easier to enter and exit the cabin. The test vehicle had Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy with wide armrests, and the third-row seat was comfortable for taller and larger adults.

Storage space was generous, with large trays and smaller compartments for third-row passengers. The Navigator L model provided substantially more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats. The standard Navigator offered 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Moving up one trim level added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, two additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control with ionizer functionality. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The larger screen was embedded within a larger black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The flat surface with touchpoints made it difficult to find the right button while keeping eyes on the road, causing drivers to rely more on steering wheel controls and voice commands. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were not as easy to use as bulkier buttons.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an available widescreen head-up display, a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system, and a control screen on the back of the center console. The Sync 4 infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition, and Alexa Built-in.

The digital assistant was excellent, easily understanding commands and responding accurately. The test vehicle had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing lush sound. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the SUV using a digital key. The Lincoln Play system installed two touchscreens for rear-seat passengers, though teenagers preferred their smartphones and ear buds.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested and rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard features like forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Optional features included blind-spot warning with collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert with collision avoidance assist, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot monitoring, forward and reverse park distance warning, parking collision avoidance assist (rear), ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary normal oil changes and tire rotations.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a long list of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) bundled in the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. The test vehicle had both packages, including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise. BlueCruise was a hands-free driving assist system for approximately 130,000 miles of North American highways. It struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones, and lacked a lane-change assist function. The Navigator responded to sudden lane changes by other motorists with excessive braking, causing suspension dive and lane waggling. The NHTSA gave the Navigator a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating, but no full assessment was available from the NHTSA or IIHS.