2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's reliable and practical design ethos. Its exterior resembled a scaled-down Honda Pilot, yet it also had the ruggedness of a pumped-up CR-V. The Passport's styling cues suggested a more athletic and adventurous spirit compared to its siblings. Available in four trims—Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite—the Elite trim came fully loaded with features like a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The increased ground clearance, especially in AWD models, made it more off-road capable.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was sophisticated and practical, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim boasted perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, with a button-heavy shifting mechanism that saved space. Lower trims offered various packages to enhance features, and Honda Sensing safety technology was available on the Touring grade.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, in contrast, was a paragon of luxury and elegance. Despite sharing its basic structure with the Ford Expedition, the Navigator stood out with unique design elements. The exterior featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and 22-inch wheels. The Pristine White model with a white-painted grille and black wheels was particularly striking. The Navigator's interior was equally impressive, with seven color palettes and high-quality materials. The Perfect Position seats could adjust in 30 different ways, offering unparalleled comfort. The Black Label trims added even more luxurious textures and materials.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the engine provided sufficient power, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. AWD models performed slightly worse. The Passport excelled in various driving conditions, from the flats of Fresno to the peaks of Yosemite, and its torque-vectoring AWD system enhanced stability on winding roads. The Passport could tow up to 5,000 pounds, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine from the Ford Raptor, delivering 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator felt surprisingly agile for its size. Its 4WD system was smooth and efficient, and it could tow up to 8,700 pounds with RWD. However, its fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but it lacked the refinement of competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. Despite some shortcomings in handling, the Navigator's powerful engine and plush cabin made it a comfortable highway cruiser.

The 2020 Honda Passport was all about practicality. Its right-sized dimensions provided good visibility and spacious seating for four adults. The Passport offered height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and comfortable seats similar to those in the Honda Pilot and Odyssey. The SUV excelled in cargo space, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The center console and secondary shelf space added to its practicality, and the interior materials were easy to clean.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a spacious luxury SUV, capable of seating six adults comfortably. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children. The Navigator offered 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 103 cubic feet with all seats folded. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage. The rear glass could open separately from the tailgate, a convenient feature for loading and unloading. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with features like separate thigh extensions and massage programs. However, the second-row seats lacked some advanced features found in competitors.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base model came with a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was practical and easy to use, though not particularly flashy. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The dashboard design, borrowed from the Pilot, looked somewhat outdated but functional.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's 10-inch touchscreen felt small compared to newer models. While it lacked some advanced features like wireless Apple CarPlay and high-resolution cameras, the system was intuitive and easy to use. The Navigator offered onboard 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, and a smartwatch app. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connectivity options. The Navigator's technology was straightforward, providing essential features without overwhelming complexity.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including collision mitigation, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the NHTSA, though its rollover resistance was rated lower. The IIHS had not rated the Navigator. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but the Navigator's driver-assist features were not as advanced as some competitors.