Lincoln Navigator vs Hyundai Venue

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator presented a more refined aesthetic, moving away from its previous flashy design to embrace a subtler elegance. While it retained a certain sparkle, the addition of the Jet Appearance or Black Label Special Edition package introduced blacked-out wheels and details, allowing the illuminated star logo and light bars to stand out. The overall design was simpler and cleaner, with new 24-inch wheel designs and a unique Sunrise Copper paint color exclusive to Black Label models adding a touch of sophistication. Inside, the Navigator shifted to a minimalist cabin design, enhancing the perception of quality despite some ergonomic challenges. The 48-inch panoramic display and Revel speaker grilles added a modern touch, though some materials, particularly in the rear, fell short of luxury expectations.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue was classified as a crossover SUV, though its compact size and design leaned more towards a tall hatchback. Its exterior featured SUV-like elements such as a bluff nose, roof rails, and black wheel flares, giving it a rugged appearance despite its small stature. The Venue's interior was simple and functional, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled an iPad. The use of body-color trim around the air vents and shifter added a playful touch, but the overall feel was more utilitarian than luxurious.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. The Navigator's 4WD system and 8.9 inches of ground clearance made it capable on various terrains. Despite its hefty three-ton weight, the Navigator demonstrated agility and a pleasing engine sound. Various driving modes allowed for adjustments in powertrain response, steering, and suspension firmness, though the 24-inch wheels contributed to a rougher ride. The Navigator excelled on open roads, offering a quiet and composed experience, especially with the BlueCruise hands-free driving system.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a modest 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing just 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. This power was channeled through a CVT to the front wheels, with no AWD option available. The Venue's acceleration was sluggish, with a 0-60 mph time between 8.5 and 8.8 seconds, but its lightweight construction at 2,738 pounds helped it feel peppy in city driving. However, highway speeds revealed the engine's limitations, and the CVT's slushy performance made passing maneuvers challenging. The Venue's handling benefited from its compact size, allowing for nimble maneuvering, though its ride was less refined due to a solid rear axle.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space and luxury, though taller passengers might find the rear seats less accommodating. The Navigator featured Perfect Position seats with up to 24-way power adjustment, and the Black Label trim added massage functionality. The Lincoln Rejuvenate system provided a unique wellness experience through scent, sound, imagery, and massage. However, the thick front seats limited knee room in the second row, and the third-row seat, while offering good leg support, also suffered from limited knee room. The Navigator L variant provided expanded cargo space, with a maximum of 121.6 cubic feet available. The innovative Split Gate tailgate design added versatility, though accessing items near the third-row seatbacks was challenging.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior was more modest, with cloth and synthetic leather seats offering basic comfort. The six-way manual adjustments allowed for a natural driving position, and seat heating was available in SEL models. While headroom was ample, legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat accommodated two adults comfortably, but three would be cramped. The Venue's cargo space was modest, with 31.9 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Cost-cutting measures were evident in the use of hard black plastic throughout the cabin, and the lack of sound deadening was noticeable.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator featured the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment system, highlighted by a 48-inch panoramic display and an 11.1-inch center touchscreen. The system integrated Google Built-in and Alexa Built-in, offering an intuitive interface. However, the reduction of physical controls made some adjustments cumbersome and potentially distracting while driving. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, and additional tech features included Phone As A Key and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Navigator lacked a head-up display and digital rearview mirror, which could be useful given its size.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with a basic 8-inch touchscreen for infotainment, which, while small, was functional and responsive. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but lacked features like navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium option available. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information and was not programmable.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator boasted an impressive array of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Unique features like intersection assist and evasive steering assist added to its safety credentials. The BlueCruise system provided hands-free driving on approved roads, enhancing long-distance travel comfort. However, as of the review, the Navigator had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a solid set of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert were available on all but the base SE trim. The Venue's safety ratings were mediocre, with a four-star rating from the NHTSA and limited IIHS ratings available at the time of writing.