2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2024 Honda Passport

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator continued to impress with its luxurious design and spacious interior, despite not undergoing significant updates since its last refresh in 2022. The test vehicle, a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featured a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim, which added a sleek and modern touch. Inside, the cabin was adorned with quality materials, including real wood trim and chrome accents, although some chrome plastic elements fell short of conveying true luxury. The ambient lighting in the Reserve I package added a touch of elegance, enhancing the overall upscale feel of the interior.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport maintained its familiar design, with only minor tweaks since its last update in 2022. The Passport's rugged TrailSport trim aimed to appeal to adventure enthusiasts, featuring all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights. However, the faux skid plates and lack of recovery points indicated that the TrailSport was more about appearance than true off-road capability. Inside, the Passport offered a simple and unassuming interior, with black leather upholstery and orange contrast stitching in the TrailSport trim. While the interior was functional and well-integrated, it lacked the upscale materials found in the Navigator.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain, the Navigator offered a range of driving modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. Despite its powerful engine, the Navigator's fuel efficiency was less than stellar, averaging 15.6 mpg during testing. The adaptive damping suspension, while standard, did not provide the expected ride quality, with the SUV feeling more like a truck over smaller bumps. However, the Excite mode improved the ride by stiffening the suspension and enhancing the powertrain's responsiveness.

The 2024 Honda Passport, on the other hand, featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered smooth and unobtrusive gear shifts. The TrailSport trim included mechanical enhancements for off-road driving, such as wider tracks and tuned suspension. The Passport's torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and traction-management settings added value, although the vehicle's fuel economy was modest, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. The Passport's steering was well-balanced and accurate, providing a pleasant driving experience despite some road noise at highway speeds.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, offering spacious seating across all three rows and a generous cargo area. The test vehicle featured Lincoln's 30-way Perfect Position power-adjustable front seats, providing heating, ventilation, and massage functions for ultimate comfort. The second-row captain's chairs allowed easy access to the third row, where even taller adults could sit comfortably. Storage space was abundant, with various trays and compartments throughout the cabin. For those needing extra cargo space, the extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more room behind the third row, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and luggage.

In comparison, the 2024 Honda Passport was a standout in the two-row midsize crossover segment, offering impressive cargo capacity. With 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and additional underfloor storage, the Passport outperformed many competitors. The 60/40-split folding rear seats expanded cargo space to 77.7 cubic feet, with the seats folding flush with the trunk floor for easy loading. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned center console bin for increased storage. While rear-seat legroom was slightly tighter than some rivals, the Passport's overall interior space was well-utilized.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a range of digital displays, including a 12-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Sync 4 system offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a navigation system and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, accurately responding to voice commands. However, the wireless smartphone charger tended to overheat devices. The test vehicle also included a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing exceptional sound quality. Rear-seat passengers had access to the Lincoln Play infotainment system, though it was largely ignored in favor of personal devices.

The 2024 Honda Passport, in contrast, came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small given the vehicle's size. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The system's resolution and response speed were commendable, but the navigation display's persistence in city driving was a minor annoyance. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was adequate, though audiophiles might prefer the upgraded system available in the Black Edition. Overall, the Passport's tech offerings were functional but lacked the sophistication and size of the Navigator's systems.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise hands-free driving assist. BlueCruise allowed for hands-free driving on designated highways, though it required frequent driver intervention in challenging conditions. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, but lacked a full crashworthiness assessment from major safety organizations.

The 2024 Honda Passport came standard with a robust set of safety features under the "Honda Sensing" umbrella, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Despite these features, the Passport's crash test ratings were less impressive, with the IIHS rating it "Acceptable" in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and "Marginal" in the updated side-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Passport five stars overall, but it received four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests.