2023 Kia Sportage vs 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, drawing comparisons to French automakers like Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen. Its standout features included bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, which added a touch of class to this compact crossover. The Sportage was available in seven trim levels, including the new X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige trims. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, which, while durable, didn't quite match the feel of genuine leather. The interior boasted a large display dominating the dash, although some areas featured hard-wearing plastic and piano-black finishes that were prone to fingerprints.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a more sophisticated and streamlined exterior design, featuring a bifurcated grille with LED lighting that illuminated the Lincoln star logo. The rear showcased a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports, while the profile incorporated high door handles into the beltline. Inside, the Nautilus impressed with high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. The interior's highlight was the full-width screen, complemented by the traditional piano key shifter style. The Jet Appearance Package offered additional customization options, including two-tone paint and black exterior trim.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a gas-powered 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. While the engine was slightly larger and more powerful than its predecessor, it lacked the punch of the previous turbocharged engine, which had delivered 240 horsepower. The Sportage's fuel efficiency was commendable, with 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 28 combined for FWD, and 23/28/25 for AWD. The X-Line and X-Pro trims added rugged visual cues and off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro featuring BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and specific drive modes for various conditions.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for the hybrid setup, which delivered 310 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid's range exceeded 600 miles, making it a practical choice for long journeys. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was well-tuned, avoiding the typical drawbacks of CVTs.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered increased dimensions compared to its predecessor, with a 7.1-inch longer body and a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase. This translated to impressive interior space, with 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The front seats provided ample storage options, but the touch-sensitive HVAC controls proved frustrating, as they required navigating through menus to access basic functions.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus excelled in interior comfort, especially with the Black Label model's 24-way Perfect Position front seats, which offered massage and extended heating functions. Rear passengers enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, surpassing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods, while the cargo space offered 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Nautilus was available only with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2023 Kia Sportage impressed with its technology offerings, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX-and-up trims, paired with a panoramic, curved 12.3-inch driver information display on the SX trim and above. However, the wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on higher trims puzzled many, as the base LX trim offered wireless connectivity. The Sportage included wireless charging, rear USB-C charging ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and a Harman Kardon stereo on select trims.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. The center console housed an 11.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. While the HVAC controls were easily accessible, adjusting the vents required navigating through menus, which could be distracting. The Nautilus included Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing, and over-the-air updates, along with wireless charging and USB-A and -C charge ports throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included the blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist, although these features were not available on lower trims. The Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The hands-free/eyes-up Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was available on all trims, with a trial period for Premiere and Reserve trims and standard on the Black Label trim. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, although the 2024 model had not yet been rated.