2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Honda Pilot, with two rows of seats instead of three. This design choice was evident from its exterior appearance, making it almost a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport’s dashboard layout mirrored that of the Pilot, which included the debated "button shifter" design instead of a traditional gear lever. Despite corporate design choices, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials distributed throughout. Trim levels such as Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite ensured a variety of features for different needs. The base model Sport included 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and walk-away auto-locking features. Touring trims enhanced luxury with front-and-rear parking sensors and a WiFi hotspot, while the Elite included premium features like heated and ventilated front seats and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus had roots tracing back to the Lincoln MKX, a midsize luxury SUV based on the Ford Edge. Facelifted in 2019 and rebranded as the Nautilus, it swapped confusing alphanumeric nomenclature for a more elegant styling. For 2021, the Nautilus retained its exterior but introduced a redesigned cabin that followed Lincoln’s sleek design trends with clean lines, soft materials, and a large touchscreen. It, too, had an unorthodox shifter layout, employing a "Piano Key" button system. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen was user-friendly, and Lincoln's decision to retain familiar infotainment elements from Ford proved wise. Trims included Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each increasing in luxury and features. The Standard trim offered 18-inch alloy wheels and LED lights, Reserve added amenities like a panoramic sunroof and wireless device charging, and the Black Label featured twin-turbo V6 engine, 21-inch wheels, and a 19-speaker stereo system.

Every Passport trim was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) but offered all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission handled power delivery effectively. However, the engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, a feature that could be deactivated if needed. The Passport's ride struck a balance between comfort and handling, though it wasn’t designed for extreme off-roading. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD’s Intelligent Traction Management system, it offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. When it came to towing, the FWD version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, whereas the AWD version could manage up to 5,000 pounds.

The Lincoln Nautilus started with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. More powerful was the available twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 on the Reserve and standard on the Black Label, delivering 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard for the four-cylinder, with optional AWD; the V6 came with standard AWD. The twin-turbo V6 offered remarkable power both in urban settings and on highways, despite an initial delay in power delivery. Its adaptive suspension smoothed out bumps and provided firm handling in corners. Although not a sports car, its composed performance made for a pleasant driving experience, augmented by the engine stop-start feature designed to conserve fuel, albeit with a slight delay in re-engagement.

The Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 100.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use, plus an additional 2.5 cubic feet in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim and above included convenient power liftgate features, culminating in a hands-free version in Touring and Elite trims. The upright seating position enhanced visibility, complemented by deep center console bins and open cargo trays. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets, and rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, being both reclinable and slidable for added comfort.

The Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 37.2 cubic feet with them in use, placing it ahead of competitors like the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. Standard and available trims featured power and hands-free liftgates, respectively. Emphasizing two-row comfort, the rear seats offered plenty of space for adults, but the front 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable seats were where luxury truly shone. The soft-touch materials on the center console and door handles enhanced comfort. The Nautilus had a sizeable center console bin and deep in-door pockets, and its floating center console design allowed for additional storage beneath the radio and climate controls.

For 2021, the Passport included standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, paired with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this addition was commendable, Honda's infotainment system lagged behind competitors with dated graphics, a convoluted menu layout, and an awkwardly placed volume dial with no tuning dial.

Conversely, the Nautilus featured an expansive 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and an intuitive menu system. It eschewed unnecessary proprietary controllers and presented features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto prominently. The home button facilitated ease of use, and the available wireless charging pad streamlined phone integration. Additionally, the Revel 19-speaker premium audio system delivered top-notch sound quality.

The Passport came well-equipped with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The Passport earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and top scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.

The Nautilus's CoPilot360 package included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available features added adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view monitoring, and adaptive headlights. Despite this comprehensive safety suite, the low-quality backup camera was a notable setback.