2025 Lincoln Navigator vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator presented a more refined aesthetic, moving away from its previous flashy design to embrace a subtler elegance. The vehicle maintained its sparkle but in a more sophisticated manner, especially with the Jet Appearance or Black Label Special Edition packages, which featured blacked-out wheels and details. The illuminated star logo on the grille and the front and rear light bars were standout features. The Navigator's exterior was simpler and cleaner, with new 24-inch wheel designs and a striking Sunrise Copper paint option exclusive to Black Label models. Inside, the Navigator adopted a minimalist cabin design, enhancing the perception of quality despite some ergonomic challenges. The 48-inch panoramic display and Revel speaker grilles added to the interior's allure, though some cheaper materials were still present, particularly towards the rear of the cabin.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid showcased a bold redesign that divided opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality varied significantly with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that either stood out or blended in depending on the shade. The X-Line and X-Pro models featured distinctive grille blocks and amber accent lights. The side profile was marked by angular fender sculpting and unique black plastic tabs, while the rear resembled a Range Rover with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though some buttons were hard to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were firm but comfortable, and the surrounding materials were of excellent quality.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and had a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. The Navigator featured standard four-wheel drive and 8.9 inches of ground clearance. During a test drive near San Diego, the Navigator achieved an observed fuel economy of 20.3 mpg, surpassing the EPA rating of 17 mpg. Despite its weight, the Navigator was responsive, with various driving modes adjusting powertrain response and suspension firmness. However, the 24-inch wheels contributed to a rough ride, and the steering wheel design was not ideal for such a large SUV. On mountain roads, the Navigator offered good grip and body control, with strong brakes. The SUV excelled on open roads, especially with the BlueCruise system for hands-free driving.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was mated to a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. The Telluride's ride was tuned for comfort, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering a surprisingly smooth ride despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride due to its 20-inch wheels, but the suspension managed to absorb bumps effectively. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, with a soft brake pedal effort that required adjustment. In panic stops, the brakes responded well, and the vehicle maintained stability.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior room and cargo capacity, though taller passengers might find the rear seats less accommodating. The Navigator featured Perfect Position seats with up to 24-way power adjustment, leather upholstery, and heating and ventilation. The Black Label trim added 30-way adjustment and massage functionality. The Lincoln Rejuvenate system provided stress relief through scent, sound, imagery, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, but knee room was limited due to thick front seats. The third-row seat offered good leg support but limited knee room. The Navigator L provided significant cargo space, with a new Split Gate tailgate design for easier access. The standard-length Navigator offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 107 cubic feet with seats folded. The Navigator L increased these volumes to 36.1 and 121.6 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rear seats were better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could seat seven with captain's chairs or eight with a second-row bench. The cargo area offered 22.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid. The interior featured a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and storage trays for smaller items.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator featured the Lincoln Digital Experience infotainment system with 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, some controls, like air vent adjustments, required navigating the touchscreen, which could be distracting while driving. The Google Assistant was helpful for typical commands but struggled with specific requests. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system provided excellent sound quality. The Navigator offered internet browsing, video streaming, and gaming through its 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The Phone As A Key system allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. For towing, the Navigator included Pro Trailer Backup Assist, simplifying trailer maneuvering. However, the Navigator lacked a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and night vision technology.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch climate control screen. The system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it occasionally required hard taps and had some delays. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature buttons were available. The system offered customizable themes, including NBA, National Geographic, and Disney collaborations. The Telluride SX trim and above featured a 14-speaker Meridian audio system with excellent sound quality. Supporting trims had an eight-speaker system.

The 2025 Lincoln Navigator offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The Navigator also featured intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and Turn Signal View. BlueCruise provided hands-free driving on approved roads, with driver-signaled automatic lane changes and in-lane repositioning. The system excelled in favorable conditions during testing. As of this writing, the Navigator had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard safety features such as frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking proximity sensors, highway driving assist, and rear passenger sensors/reminders. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, side parking proximity sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor occasionally triggered false alerts at night. The highway driving assist was effective on long trips, maintaining lane position and speed. The Telluride had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing.