2025 Lincoln Aviator vs 2024 Kia Seltos

The 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, resulting in subtle yet effective design updates. The refreshed model featured updated headlight and grille designs, with a light strip connecting the smaller taillight assemblies, giving the vehicle a rejuvenated appearance without significant cost increases. The test model showcased the new "Pluton Blue" paint, which was particularly striking. Inside, the Seltos introduced a new Gentle Brown interior colour, although the test model retained the standard black interior. A significant interior update was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, combining a fully digital instrument panel with an enlarged touchscreen infotainment system.

In contrast, the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, boasted classic design proportions. Its blunt nose, short front overhang, and appealing dash-to-axle ratio contributed to its sports wagon-like appearance. However, the 2025 styling appeared less elegant and more generic, especially with the optional Jet Appearance Package. Inside, the Aviator offered a plush interior with a classic architectural sensibility, avoiding an over-reliance on screens. The Aviator's remote keyless entry fob, however, was criticized for its cheap plastic construction. Despite this, the Aviator's Phone as a Key technology and touchpad entry system provided modern conveniences.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The SX and X-Line trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided noticeable acceleration improvements, especially in Sport mode, and handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, generating 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Excite, Conserve, Normal, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. Despite its power, the Aviator prioritized comfort over excitement, with a focus on a composed and calming driving experience. The adaptive air suspension provided a smooth ride, although the oversized tires generated noticeable road noise. The Aviator's steering and handling lacked athleticism, but the Air Glide suspension effectively controlled body motions and roll.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided up to 1,778 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 753 litres with the seats in use. The upright seating position offered excellent driver visibility and ample headroom, accommodating taller occupants comfortably. The front seating area featured decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the centre console provided a tray for small items. A removable cargo cover was standard from the EX Premium trim.

In the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, the Perfect Position front seats offered exceptional comfort with 30-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, with available heating and ventilation. However, the third-row seats were less accommodating for adults, with limited legroom and low, flat cushions. The Aviator excelled in storage space, with a well-organized centre console and deep door panel storage pockets. The cargo space behind the third row measured 466 litres, expanding to 1,131 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,149 litres with all seats down.

The 2024 Kia Seltos featured a consistent digital bezel across its trim lineup, with screen sizes varying by trim. The base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, while upper trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with logical layouts and responsive screens. The Seltos retained tactile controls for volume and climate settings, and higher trims offered an upgraded Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch smartphone app.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator boasted a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience technology. It included Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts in the test vehicle, while Apple CarPlay and Siri performed well. The Aviator featured an app called Elevated Journey, offering mindfulness coaching for the road. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system provided excellent audio quality, and the head-up display offered comprehensive data presentation.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came equipped with standard driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The EX Premium trim added smart adaptive cruise control, while the SX trim included traffic sign recognition and highway driving assist.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including active blind-spot monitoring, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist were standard, along with BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system. The Aviator received five-star ratings from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).