There are three SUVs coming out during the 2020 model year that go above and beyond consumer expectations. The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, 2020 Hyundai Palisade, and 2020 Kia Telluride are all worth waiting for if you are in the market for an affordable luxury SUV.
Here’s what differentiates them from other SUVs in this class:
The new Aviator is a “real” luxury SUV option
Lincoln’s Aviator designers went out of their way to offer an SUV that coddles its driver and passengers. It’s a true sanctuary, as intended.
The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 offers 400 horsepower. Drivers can get all-wheel drive on Standard and Reserve trim levels. The two top-tier trims, the Grand Touring and Black Label, also have all-wheel drive. The base model has rear-wheel drive.
Although it’s large, the Aviator is also a sporty SUV with an intuitive 10-speed automatic transmission. There are five drive modes, including Normal, Conserve, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. Excite is the most fun according to reviewers’ consensus.
Although it offers more power than the competing 2020 Cadillac XT6, it gets better mileage. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the all-wheel-drive version of the 2020 Aviator is 20mpg/combined.
The Black Label Aviator trim has a clear and wide heads-up display and 100% digital instrument panel. The infotainment system features a 10.1-inch touchscreen. With a price tag that breaks $80k, this trim level is loaded with luxury features.
30-way adjustable seats with massage function, soft-close doors, four-zone climate control, multiple charging ports for tech, and 30 speakers (including several in the ceiling) make this luxury SUV a worthy competitor for the Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90.
Drivers can get the hybrid version for around $52k. Additional features could bring the price tag up as high as $90k. The base model 2020 Lincoln Aviator starts at just over $51k.
2020 Hyundai Palisade is a posh option at a low price
It’s Hyundai’s biggest SUV so far, and with high-class touches and an aggressive exterior look, the Palisade is positioned to compete with SUVs that cost three times as much.
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade SE is the base model, and you can get it for less than $33k. The mid-level version is the SEL with a price point of less than $35k. The Limited has all of the additional features you expect in a luxury SUV and is just over $45k. Add optional all-wheel drive to any trim level for an additional $1,700.
Even though it takes 6.9 seconds to go from zero to 60mph, the Palisade is still faster than the Kia Telluride. The all-wheel-drive version has an EPA-estimated 19mpg in the city and 26mpg on the highway. It has a 3.8-liter V-6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine provides 291 horsepower.
The SE and SEL come with a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system complete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth connectivity is also standard on these trims. A 10.3-inch sharp resolution display is standard with the Limited and optional on the SEL trim.
Seven USB ports and the ability to simultaneously connect two devices via the onboard Bluetooth system make this SUV a standout among the competition for the price.
Hyundai’s Blue Link app makes remote start, locking, and unlocking through Google Assistant and Alexa possible.
Palisade Limited drivers also enjoy innovative safety features like a video feed of the blind spot that appears with use of the turn signal. This people-moving SUV even has thoughtful features like a lower button placed at kid-height that moves the middle seat forward for easy access to the third row. The SEL and Limited trims come with Side Exit Assist, which lets the driver and passengers know if it’s not safe to exit a vehicle after parallel parking. The system locks rear doors so passengers can’t jump out into oncoming traffic.
Back seat passengers also have access to USB ports mounted to the sides of the seatback and netted smartphone pockets to keep tech close by and safe.
There just isn’t another SUV of this size with the same array of comfort, safety, and technology at this price point. The Palisade also comes with Hyundai’s standard 100,000-mile/10-year drivetrain warranty, as well.
2020 Kia Telluride is the manufacturer’s newest luxury project
It’s by far the most affordable option for those shopping for a mid-sized SUV with three rows of seating. It’s bigger than the Kia Sorento and adds a multitude of luxury features. The Telluride has room for seven or eight, depending on the interior configuration.
The S and SX trims have two captain’s chairs in the second-row. The LX and EX trim levels have a bench seat. Front-wheel drive is standard on the base LX trim, which starts at just over $31k. The top-level Telluride SX starts at about $41,500 with all-wheel drive, which is much less than competing luxury SUVs.
The SX also offers high-end comfort with power-adjustable front seats, first and second-row seats that are ventilated and heated, and a heated steering wheel.
The base Kia Telluride LX offers the UVO infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen that’s larger than the competitor’s touch-screens in this category. Drivers get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, six USB ports, proximity keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and synthetic leather seats. The Telluride S adds a sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat. With the Telluride EX, a power liftgate, a navigation system, additional USB port, ventilated front seats, and Driver Talk adds convenience and comfort at a starting price of about $37k.
The front-wheel-drive 2020 Kia Telluride gets a predictable 23mpg combined according to the EPA. The all-wheel-drive version gets a combined 21mpg. For drivers committed to getting the best possible gas mileage, there are better choices for a low mpg SUV. A standard 291-horsepower V6 engine and advanced driver safety features combined with upscale design make the Telluride a capable and beautiful option. Here’s a full review of the 2020 Kia Telluride.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator elbowed it’s way into the ranks of ultra-luxurious SUVs, without the ridiculously high price tag. For a beautifully-designed SUV with all the bells and whistles, this one deserves a test drive. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade and 2020 Kia Telluride seem like competitors, but the price difference and Hyundai’s distinctive design will sway many SUV-buyers one way or the other. This is a competitive market, but these SUVs nudge the 2020 Ford Explorer, 2020 Honda Pilot, 2020 Subaru Ascent, 2020 Dodge Durango, and the 2020 GMCF Acadia out of the running.
Shopping for a mid-sized SUV that seats seven or eight passengers comfortably isn’t the most exciting task. These three newcomers add an undeniable element of luxury and style to the task of moving people, and they do it at an affordable price.
