2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, its platform sibling. The Navigator's unique front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system, added a touch of elegance. The lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights were distinctive design elements. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, showcased the new Reserve Monochromatic Package, which included body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a panoramic glass roof created a convincingly luxurious atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced as part of a mid-cycle refresh, maintained the same dimensions and interior layout as its gasoline counterpart. The hybrid model featured subtle exterior differences, such as blue-outlined Honda emblems and "Hybrid" badges. Inside, the gear shifter was replaced with a push-button selector, and paddle shifters adjusted brake regeneration. The hybrid's driving modes—Normal, EV, Econ, and Sport—were displayed on the unchanged instrument panel. Despite these changes, the CR-V Hybrid's interior remained largely the same, with a focus on practicality and comfort.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offered strong acceleration and a subtle yet aggressive engine note. The Navigator's multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, tailored the powertrain to various driving situations. With a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds (RWD) and 8,300 pounds (4WD), the Navigator excelled in towing capabilities, aided by the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. However, fuel economy was a downside, averaging 16.4 mpg on the testing loop. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable with 22-inch wheels.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating a combined 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. This setup, with four fixed-ratio gear sets and a lock-up clutch, eliminated the need for a conventional transmission. The CR-V Hybrid's fuel economy was impressive, with EPA ratings of 40 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined. During testing, the CR-V Hybrid achieved nearly 41 mpg in city driving. The hybrid's driving modes included Sport, which offered more responsive torque and throttle. However, the EV mode was limited to short distances. The CR-V Hybrid's ride comfort and handling were commendable, with the AWD system providing on-demand torque for a more enjoyable driving experience.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers enjoyed ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, part of the optional Luxury Package, offered exceptional comfort, though finding the ideal settings took time. The Navigator's second-row seats could be configured as a three-person bench or two captain's chairs, with the latter option including a large center console. The third-row seats provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was also impressive, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet in the standard-length model. The longer Navigator L offered even more cargo space.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, while maintaining the same dimensions as the gasoline model, compromised on cargo capacity due to the battery pack beneath the cargo floor. It offered 33.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 68.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Despite this reduction, the CR-V Hybrid still provided more cargo space than the Ford Escape Hybrid. The CR-V Hybrid excelled in passenger comfort, offering more overall space than its direct competitors, including the Escape and RAV4 hybrids. The configurable center console bin added practicality, though the armrest's adjustability was overly eager.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive technology, with slow content loading times. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. The "Phone As A Key" technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but lacked the natural feel of some competitors. The test vehicle's 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system was not included.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora compatibility, and a single USB connector. Higher trims, starting with the EX, added a 7-inch touchscreen display, Honda Link, smartphone integration, SiriusXM, HD radio, and additional USB ports. The top-of-the-line Touring trim included navigation, wireless device charging, and a 330-watt premium audio system. However, the infotainment system's lack of haptic feedback and overly complicated procedures for simple tasks were drawbacks. The instrument panel provided useful information but required navigating through various menus, which could be distracting while driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance operated with refinement. The SUV earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Honda Sensing, which offered automatic braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic high beams, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.