2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Honda Passport was a testament to Honda's consistent design philosophy, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic that resonated with loyal Honda buyers. Its exterior design was a blend of the Honda Pilot and CR-V, presenting a rugged and athletic appearance that set it apart from its siblings. The Passport's elevated ground clearance further enhanced its off-road capabilities, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers. Inside, the Passport's cabin was a harmonious mix of practicality and sophistication, featuring high-quality materials and a spacious layout that emphasized comfort and utility. The Elite trim, in particular, offered a luxurious experience with heated and ventilated seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and a host of other premium features.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator embraced a distinct design language that set it apart from its competitors. Its exterior was characterized by sharp lines and chrome accents, creating a sophisticated and luxurious appearance. The Aviator's interior was equally impressive, offering a warm and comfortable environment with soft-touch materials and a well-designed center console. The piano button shifter added a unique touch to the cabin, while the soothing chimes contributed to the overall sense of luxury. The Aviator's various trims, including the Grand Touring and Black Label, provided a range of features and options, ensuring a tailored experience for discerning buyers.

The 2020 Honda Passport was equipped with a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered smooth performance across various driving conditions. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, while AWD models managed 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Despite this, the Passport excelled in off-road scenarios, thanks to its torque-vectoring AWD system and multiple drive modes, including Snow, Sand, and Mud. It also boasted a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, surpassing many of its rivals.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, on the other hand, offered a more powerful performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trims took it a step further with a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. This hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth driving experience, although the Aviator's size and weight could lead to noticeable body roll in corners. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered unique options like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its versatility for different driving conditions.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical choice, offering ample space and comfort for passengers. Its size was ideal for providing good visibility and spacious seating for four adults, with no third-row option. The Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, including a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The Passport's climate control and seat functionalities were user-friendly, contributing to a comfortable ride.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided a generous 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second row was particularly luxurious, featuring captain's chairs and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio settings. The Aviator's power-button door releases were a unique feature, though they raised concerns about functionality in the event of a battery failure. Overall, the Aviator offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, ideal for those seeking a premium experience.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a practical infotainment system, with the EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims offering an 8.0-inch Display Audio touchscreen. This system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing a user-friendly interface with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Additional features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, with higher trims offering a 10-speaker system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. While the dashboard design was somewhat dated, the Passport's technology was reliable and easy to use.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator boasted a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. This system offered a sensible menu layout and redundant controls, enhancing usability. The Aviator came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with these programs displayed prominently on the screen. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display added to the Aviator's technological appeal, providing crisp graphics and easy-to-read information.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and achieving a Top Safety Pick designation. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included features like collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection, ensuring comprehensive protection for drivers and passengers.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was also well-equipped with safety features, including the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package. This included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, among others. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, available on higher trims, added advanced features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.