2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured a tiger-nose grille that, while successful on other Kia models, seemed out of place on this SUV. The grille, positioned under oversized headlights and above a chrome trim, resembled a fake mustache plastered on the front. Despite this, Kia nailed other design elements, from the Porsche Macan-like running lights to the Volkswagen-style symmetry at the rear. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its stylish and planted stance. Inside, the Sportage boasted a Germanic design with a black dashboard, metallic accents, and plain white-on-black instrumentation. The SX Turbo included metal pedal covers and offered a high-contrast interior in black, gray, or beige. Buttons and knobs made the controls user-friendly, and the solid transmission shifter added a sense of quality.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and refreshed in 2022, entered 2023 with minimal updates. The test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featured a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The interior, predominantly black with real wood trim and chrome accents, looked upscale but had some less luxurious chrome plastic switchgear. Ambient lighting in the Reserve I package added character at night. The Navigator's cabin was spacious and used quality materials, but the chrome plastic on some switchgear detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, came with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided quick acceleration, especially beneficial at higher elevations. The SX Turbo's torque peaked between 1,450 and 3,500 rpm, giving it a sudden surge of power. The Sportage's suspension, featuring a MacPherson strut front and independent multi-link rear, offered a smooth and compliant ride. The SX Turbo also had upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels. While fun to drive, the Sportage's steering and tire grip could be improved for a more refined experience.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg combined but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. The Navigator offered five drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Hill Climb mode available with the towing package. The adaptive damping suspension, featuring Road Preview, aimed to smooth out the ride but struggled with smaller bumps and cracks. In Excite mode, the Navigator's performance improved, but fuel efficiency suffered. The SUV felt smaller on mountain roads, thanks to excellent visibility and impressive grip from the 22-inch wheels, but the steering was slow and lifeless, and the brakes struggled with the vehicle's nearly three-ton weight.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though smaller on the compact crossover scale, offered a surprisingly roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and the heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard. Rear seat legroom was generous, and Kia included air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. However, the maximum cargo volume was limited to 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, falling short of competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Sportage featured a smart liftgate technology for hands-free access, which could be turned off if not needed.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. Power-deploying running boards made entry and exit easier. The test vehicle featured Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious and provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which accommodated taller adults comfortably. Storage space was generous, with large trays and smaller compartments throughout the cabin. The extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly 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 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system lacked advanced features like a WiFi hotspot, and the voice-recognition technology was inconsistent. The 8-inch screen size was also becoming outdated.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an available widescreen head-up display, and a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system. The Sync 4 system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The digital assistant performed well, accurately responding to commands. The test vehicle also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing excellent sound quality. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the Navigator using a digital key. However, the wireless smartphone charger overheated the phone, making it unusable.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims and packages added a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received good crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) through the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. These included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system for designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. BlueCruise had limitations, struggling with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones, and lacked a lane-change assist function. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, but no full crashworthiness assessment was available.