2020 Lincoln Navigator vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition, on which it was based. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system, lattice-type grille insert, and illuminated star logo added to its distinct appearance. The Navigator also offered a new Reserve Monochromatic Package with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, was priced at $92,385 and included the Luxury and Reserve Monochromatic option packages. Inside, the Dark Slate leather interior featured 30-way Perfect Position front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions, a dashboard with mid-century modern styling cues, and a panoramic glass roof.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, with two rows of seats instead of three. The interior layout was visually identical to the Pilot, including the awkward button shifter design. Despite this, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials. Trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding progressively more features such as leather upholstery, power moonroof, hands-free liftgate, and advanced audio systems. The Passport provided a comfortable and practical cabin, with plenty of headroom and legroom for rear passengers, and a variety of convenience features across its trims.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the towing package. The Navigator's towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD, aided by the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. The SUV averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. Despite its size, the Navigator's adaptive damping suspension and body motion control provided a hint of athleticism, though it was best suited for open roads and smooth pavement. Around town, features like a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views helped with maneuverability.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered FWD as standard and optional AWD, with the latter including Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The Passport's ride was optimized for comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance for light off-roading. Towing capacity was 3,500 pounds for FWD models and 5,000 pounds for AWD models. The V6 provided strong acceleration, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. Overall, the Passport delivered a balanced performance for both commuting and weekend adventures.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space and comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and heated steering wheel provided exceptional comfort, though finding the perfect settings took time. The second row could be configured with a bench or captain's chairs, with the latter offering a large center console and heated rear seats. The third-row seat 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 103.3 cubic feet in total. The longer Navigator L model offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage was also available. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the center console provided ample storage with a deep center bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive feature, with slow loading times. However, it included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle key. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but was not as advanced as some competitors. The test vehicle's 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience, and additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a significant advantage over the Pilot, which required a higher trim for these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of smartphone connectivity features as standard was a positive move.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning 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 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.