2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's reliable and practical design ethos. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's design included a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, giving it a robust appearance. The interior, while not groundbreaking, was well-appointed with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, offering a familiar and comfortable environment for Honda enthusiasts.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, which evolved from the Lincoln MKX, showcased a more luxurious and modern aesthetic. The exterior design carried over from previous years, but the cabin received significant updates, including a sleek new dashboard with clean lines and soft materials. The standout feature was the large, crisp touchscreen that rose from the center of the dash, complemented by Lincoln's "Piano Key" shifter-button layout. The interior exuded luxury with features like the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable front seats and a soft-touch center console, making it a comfortable and upscale choice for drivers and passengers alike.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. AWD models performed slightly worse. Despite this, the Passport excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its increased ground clearance and torque-vectoring AWD system, which could send 70% of engine torque to the rear axle and 100% to either rear wheel. The Passport also boasted a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, standard on the Black Label trim, producing 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that minimized road bumps while maintaining firmness through corners. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, though it introduced a slight delay in engine response.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV with ample interior space and comfort. It offered spacious seating for four adults, with height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections in the second row. The Passport excelled in cargo space, providing 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, including a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The available tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades added to passenger comfort.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, a midsize luxury SUV, emphasized two-row comfort with 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 68.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, while the front seats, especially the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units, provided optimal comfort. The Nautilus also featured a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage. The floating center controls design allowed for additional storage below the radio and climate controls.

The 2020 Honda Passport came standard with a 5.0-inch display monitor on the base Sport model, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The system was practical and easy to navigate, though the dashboard design felt somewhat outdated. Other standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, with higher trims offering a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it user-friendly and accessible. The test model included a wireless charging pad and a Revel 19-speaker premium audio system, delivering exceptional sound quality. The infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use, with a helpful home button for quick navigation.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured 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, a surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera's low quality was a notable drawback.