2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic being rare and limited to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with higher trims featuring wood panels and more chrome for a more upscale appearance. The seats had a modern, angular design, but overall, the CR-V's look was less distinctive compared to competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus had a more distinctive and luxurious design. Originally the Lincoln MKX, it was renamed and facelifted in 2019 to become the Nautilus, embracing more attractive styling. For 2021, the exterior remained the same, but the cabin received a significant update with a sharp new dash design, clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and visually appealing, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Nautilus offered a more luxurious and distinctive look and feel compared to the CR-V.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but rather for smooth and steady acceleration and predictable cornering. All trims featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a 0-60 mph time of about 7.8 seconds. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a consistent driving experience, but it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. Its suspension setup and handling were decent, but not exceptional.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered more powerful engine options. The standard engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims featured a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6, standard on the Black Label, provided smooth and controlled acceleration, especially at highway speeds. The adaptive suspension offered a comfortable ride while maintaining composure through corners. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, though it had a slight delay in response.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The cargo area could be accessed via a manual tailgate on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, and a hands-free power tailgate on the Touring trim. Roof rails were standard only on the top-of-the-line Touring trim.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 37.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom for rear passengers and exceptionally comfortable front seats, especially the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The center console and door handles featured soft-touch materials, and the floating center controls design allowed for additional storage.

The base 2021 Honda CR-V LX had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, the EX-L had eight speakers, and the Touring trim had a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and the Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the available wireless charging pad made phone integration seamless. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with the CoPilot360 package, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.