2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

When shopping for a 2023 Lincoln Aviator, buyers first had to decide on the powertrain. The standard twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine was available in the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, 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 models combined this V6 with a 10-speed hybrid automatic transmission, a 75-kilowatt electric motor, and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering standard AWD. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The top-tier Black Label Grand Touring model, with an optional $750 paint job, had an MSRP of $91,225.

The Aviator was a stylish three-row, midsize SUV, featuring Lincoln's modern design language. However, the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered too plain, especially when paired with white paint. The Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence and electric, light-touch door handles added a touch of luxury. Inside, the Black Label Grand Touring's cabin was opulent, with patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, chrome accents, and rich caramel-hued leather seats. However, some chrome detailing and stitching appeared cheap, and the key fob felt too lightweight and plasticky for a vehicle of this caliber.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. While attractive, it didn't stand out as much as other models in the brand's lineup. The five-passenger SUV was available in SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, with front-wheel drive (FWD) standard and AWD optional. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, with Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, had a base price of $42,600. Including AWD and other options, the total MSRP was $45,845.

The Santa Fe's exterior featured a wide upper and lower grille, a signature look for Hyundai, and thin LED headlights. The interior of the Calligraphy trim was high-quality but dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats standard. The second row also featured seat heaters. The Santa Fe's cabin was spacious, with ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, was not just about efficiency. Despite adding over 800 pounds to the curb weight, the drivetrain produced an impressive 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The EPA estimated a 21-mile electric driving range and 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Aviator offered various driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Tow/Haul.

During an extended evaluation drive, the Aviator covered 22.3 miles on electric power, with a fuel economy equivalent to 163.4 mpg. Over 94.7 miles, it averaged 24.3 mpg, demonstrating the technology's efficiency. The Aviator's twin-turbo V6 provided plenty of power, but the drivetrain's response was sometimes unpredictable. The brake pedal also exhibited inconsistent behavior, common with regenerative braking systems. The Aviator's Dynamic Handling Package and adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension managed the extra weight well, offering a smooth and quiet ride. However, the Aviator was not particularly fun to drive, even in Excite mode, due to its heavy and numb steering.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a naturally aspirated engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD optional on all trims. The Santa Fe also featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes.

The turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The turbo engine provided quick, clean acceleration without undue noise or harshness. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's dual-clutch transmission performed well, without the low-speed clunkiness often associated with such systems. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort, featuring a four-zone automatic climate control system, a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and automatic 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. 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 space with the third-row seats in use, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded flat. Maximum cargo space was 77.7 cubic feet. The third-row seats were best suited for occasional use, and the Aviator was more practical with the third row folded down.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed as a two-row SUV, offered ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear-seat legroom was 41.7 inches, among the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was 36.4 cubic feet, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The Santa Fe also featured an underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area.

The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a strong point, with the SEL and higher trims offering an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added a power driver seat cushion extension, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats, rear side-window sunshades, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, a microfiber headliner, and ambient lighting. The extended panoramic sunroof was a highlight, providing a bright and airy feel to the cabin.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was loaded with technology, starting with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect connected services, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. However, it ran on Lincoln's older Sync 3 software, which had limitations in voice recognition and point-of-interest database accuracy. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system was a standout feature, delivering exceptional sound quality. The Aviator also featured wireless charging, Phone As A Key digital key system, digital instrumentation, and a comprehensive head-up display. The front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful for parking, and the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system could handle parallel and perpendicular parking.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB ports. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, digital key, and Bluelink connected services. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also had a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The Santa Fe's infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and logical arrangement. The voice-recognition system performed well for navigation and weather reports but struggled with music requests and climate control commands. The system's capability for customization was impressive for a mass-market brand.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with Lincoln's Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 collections of driver aids, depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle had features like automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The driver aids performed well on straight highways with light traffic but were less dependable in dense traffic and wide freeways. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above, combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with the highest ratings in all crashworthiness tests.