2022 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2022 Kia Telluride attracted consumers with its muscular design and balanced proportions, complemented by trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges. The Telluride was available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination charge. The interior was well-designed, with logical control arrangements, though the glossy plastic on the lower half of the cabin looked cheap, especially in the SX Prestige with its Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner. Despite this, the Telluride offered numerous new standard features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator offered a choice of powertrains, starting with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid version of the V6, adding a 75-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The Aviator's design was appealing, with a modern Lincoln face, but the wheels on the Black Label Grand Touring were too plain. The interior was luxurious, with patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, chrome accents, and rich caramel-hued leather seats. However, some chrome detailing and stitching looked cheap, and the key fob felt too inexpensive for a high-end vehicle.

The 2022 Kia Telluride was satisfying to drive, thanks to its 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and 262 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission powered the wheels, and AWD models featured a Lock mode for even power distribution. The Telluride offered a smooth ride with good handling, thanks to its brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and various driving modes. It performed well on dry pavement, snow, and muddy roads. The Telluride's fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg combined for AWD models and 23 mpg for FWD models. The towing capacity was 5,000 pounds.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, generated 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimated 21 miles of electric driving range and 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Tow/Haul. During testing, the Aviator achieved 22.3 miles of electric driving range and averaged 24.3 mpg over 94.7 miles. The drivetrain was powerful but sometimes unpredictable, with inconsistent brake pedal behavior. The Aviator's Dynamic Handling Package and adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension provided a smooth ride and flat cornering stance, but the SUV wasn't particularly fun to drive. The Aviator excelled in quietness, isolation, and smoothness, making it ideal for highway driving.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale, organized interior. Thoughtful details included overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, USB ports in the front seatbacks, and accessible rear cupholders. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and single-zone control for rear passengers. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with all seats folded. The flat load floor made it easy to haul large items.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with a four-zone automatic climate control system, a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The massaging, 30-way Perfect Position front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, with a center console for storage and controls for the panoramic sunroof's shade. However, the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access, with limited kneeroom and legroom. The Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo room with the third row in use, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.

The 2022 Kia Telluride featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, though it lost wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The Telluride included USB charging ports in all three rows, a wireless smartphone charging pad (except in the LX trim), and Kia Connect, a connected services platform with a one-year free trial. Kia Connect offered emergency assistance, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, cabin climate pre-conditioning, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring came loaded with technology, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect, SiriusXM satellite radio, and navigation. However, it used the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The Aviator featured a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, wireless charging, Phone As A Key digital key system, digital instrumentation, and a head-up display. The front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were helpful, and the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system could park the SUV autonomously.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella. These features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also had Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, and Safe Exit Assist. The Telluride earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator featured Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 driver aids, depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle included automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Aviator's safety tech performed well, though the lane-keeping system struggled in curves. The Aviator earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.