2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade stood as the flagship SUV in Hyundai's lineup, replacing the Santa Fe XL. It boasted an elegant and striking exterior design, shedding any past criticisms of being derivative. The Palisade featured distinctive lines, a prominent grille, and expressive LED lighting, giving it a signature look. Its design included a continuous strip of glass surfaces, creating the illusion of a floating rear roof. Inside, the Palisade offered a polished and near-luxury interior with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, high-quality materials, and spacious seating for up to eight passengers. The Ultimate Calligraphy model, in particular, was noted for its stunning design and luxurious features.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator, on the other hand, was an appealing three-row midsize crossover with a modern Lincoln face and grille. It featured electric, light-touch door handles and soft-close doors, enhancing the brand's effortless image. Inside, the Aviator Grand Touring was undeniably fancy, with patterned metal trim, chrome accents, and a swanky simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome detailing felt cheap, and the key fob was criticized for its lightweight, plasticky feel. The Aviator's interior was a mix of high-end materials and a complex design, offering a luxurious but somewhat overwhelming experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing for improved power and efficiency. The Palisade's fuel consumption was estimated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.6 on the highway, and 11.1 combined. Despite its middling efficiency, the Palisade offered a smooth and powerful driving experience, with a curb weight of 1,991 to 2,004 kilograms. It handled well, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, and could tow up to 2,267 kilograms with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring was a plug-in hybrid with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, generating an impressive 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. It offered 34 kilometres of electric driving range and averaged 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in hybrid mode. The Aviator featured multiple driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, and Excite, allowing drivers to optimize efficiency or performance. Despite its power, the Aviator's drivetrain was sometimes unpredictable, with inconsistent acceleration and braking behaviour. The available Dynamic Handling Package improved handling, but the Aviator was more focused on comfort and isolation than sporty driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered a spacious and versatile interior, with comfortable seating in all three rows. The third row provided easy access and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive. The Palisade's cargo space measured 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,297 litres with the third row folded, and 2,447 litres with both rows down. The Palisade featured a compact shift-by-wire setup, a dual-panel sunroof, and various luxury features in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, such as Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated seats.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated seats, and massaging 30-way Perfect Position front seats. However, the third row was cramped and not suitable for adults, with limited kneeroom and legroom. The Aviator offered 519 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,183 litres with it folded, and a maximum of 2,200 litres. The Aviator's interior was luxurious but had some design flaws, such as the tight third-row access and limited rear legroom.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a 1920 x 720 colour touchscreen, a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system, and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It featured multiple USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The Palisade also included Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system, remote keyless entry, and a head-up display in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring was equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a navigation system. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The Aviator featured a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, wireless charging, and a Phone As A Key digital key system. It also had digital instrumentation, a head-up display, and rain-sensing wipers. The Aviator's parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful, but the Active Park Assist 2.0 system was not tested.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a comprehensive list of passive and active safety features, including seven airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also featured advanced driver assistance systems like blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, and forward collision-avoidance assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with a standard suite of airbags and the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collections of driver aids. Our test vehicle included features like adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition, and forward-collision warning. It also had blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and evasive steering assist. The Aviator's safety tech performed well on highways but struggled in dense traffic. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.