Compare the2023 Lincoln NavigatorVS 2023 Kia Telluride

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Lincoln Navigator has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Navigator Reserve/Black Label inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Navigator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Telluride doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Navigator and the Telluride have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Lincoln Navigator weighs 1230 to 1721 pounds more than the Kia Telluride. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Navigator	Telluride
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	281
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	164/998 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	326	378
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	36%
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	351/369 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Navigator is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Navigator	Telluride
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	41
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Hip Force	180 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	137
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	449 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	450
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	52 G’s
Hip Force	569 lbs.	640 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Navigator’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Telluride runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

The Navigator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Telluride doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Navigator’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 149 more horsepower (440 vs. 291) and 248 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lincoln Navigator is faster than the Kia Telluride:

	Navigator	Telluride
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	17.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.1 sec	7.1 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.4 sec	3.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.2 sec	4.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Navigator’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Navigator has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Telluride (23.6 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Navigator has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Telluride doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Navigator higher (6 out of 10) than the Kia Telluride (5). This means the Navigator produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Telluride every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Navigator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Telluride.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Navigator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Telluride:

	Navigator	Telluride
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.2 inches	12 inches

The Navigator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

The Navigator stops shorter than the Telluride:

	Navigator	Telluride
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Navigator has larger standard tires than the Telluride (275/55R20 vs. 245/60R18). The Navigator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Telluride (285/45R22 vs. 245/60R18).

The Navigator Standard’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Telluride LX/X-Pro’s standard 60 series tires. The Navigator’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Telluride S/EX/SX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Navigator Standard has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Telluride LX/X-Pro. The Navigator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Telluride S/EX/SX.

The Lincoln Navigator’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Telluride only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Telluride’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Navigator’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Telluride doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator’s wheelbase is 8.3 inches longer than on the Telluride (122.5 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Navigator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.2% to 50.8%) than the Telluride’s (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the Navigator more stable handling and braking.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD handles at .77 G’s, while the Telluride SX 4x4 pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Navigator Black Label 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Telluride SX 4x4 (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Navigator has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Telluride (9.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Navigator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Navigator’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Telluride X-Line/X-Pro (9.6 vs. 8.4 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Navigator uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Telluride doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Navigator uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Telluride doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Navigator Black Label 4WD is quieter than the Telluride SX 4x4 (72 vs. 75 dB).

Passenger Space

The Navigator has 17 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Telluride (172 vs. 155).

The Navigator has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear hip room, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.7 inches more third row legroom, 7.7 inches more third row hip room and 8.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Telluride.

Cargo Capacity

The Navigator’s cargo area provides more volume than the Telluride.

	Navigator	Telluride
Third Seat Folded	57.5 cubic feet	46 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	103.3 cubic feet	87 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Navigator easier. The Navigator’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Telluride’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

The Navigator’s cargo area is larger than the Telluride’s in almost every dimension:

	Navigator	Telluride
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/48”/86.8”	20.4”/49.8”/83.8”
Max Width	51.5”	54.4”
Min Width	51”	43.5”
Height	37”	34.5”

The Navigator has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Telluride doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Both the Navigator and the Telluride have standard second row automatic folding seats. The Navigator’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Telluride doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The Navigator’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Telluride’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The Navigator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Telluride’s (6200 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Telluride is only 5000 pounds. The Navigator offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Navigator can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Telluride can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Navigator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Telluride. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Telluride SX, the Navigator Reserve/Black Label has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, foot pedal distance, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the Navigator the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Telluride can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Navigator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Telluride doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Navigator’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Telluride’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Navigator’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Telluride’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Navigator has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Telluride doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Navigator’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Telluride offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Navigator has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Telluride.

The Navigator offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Telluride.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Navigator has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Telluride S/EX/SX offers wireless charging.

The Navigator’s Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Navigator is less expensive to operate than the Telluride because it costs $118 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Navigator than the Telluride, including $230 less for a water pump, $221 less for a muffler, $97 less for front brake pads, $229 less for a starter, $160 less for fuel injection, $199 less for a fuel pump and $36 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Navigator as the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. The Telluride has never been chosen.

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