2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, sharing a vehicle platform with the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat and featured different styling. Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look, especially with the new TrailSport trim, which added off-road appeal with standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes.

The TrailSport trim, positioned as the mid-level version, included unique 18-inch wheels, a roof rack, and simulated skid plates, making it look more rugged. Inside, the Passport offered a spacious interior with quality materials, and the TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching and rubber all-season floor mats. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport model tested priced at $44,095.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, last redesigned in 2018 and freshened up in 2022, continued without significant updates. The test vehicle was a triple-black Navigator Reserve model, featuring a Monochromatic Package with black 22-inch wheels and body-color trim. The Navigator's cabin was upscale, with real wood trim panels and chrome accents, though some switchgear failed to convey luxury. The test vehicle's MSRP was $104,715, including a $1,695 destination charge.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg. The i-VTM4 AWD system, standard on TrailSport and Elite trims, provided mechanical torque vectoring and could deliver up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when necessary. The Passport offered satisfying acceleration, a firm ride, and athletic handling, though the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The test vehicle had an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined driving but averaged 15.6 mpg during testing. The Navigator offered five drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an adaptive damping suspension. The ride quality was inconsistent, with the Navigator feeling like a truck over smaller bumps and floating over larger ones. Excite mode improved handling but reduced fuel efficiency. The Navigator's size proved challenging in tight spaces, and the brakes struggled on mountain roads.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit, with large, comfortable front seats and a spacious rear seating area. Leather upholstery and heated front seats were standard, with ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats available on the Elite trim. The Passport provided ample storage, including a massive center console bin and generous cargo space, measuring 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with roomy seats in all three rows and an available extended body style for more cargo space. Power-deploying running boards made entry and exit easier, and the 30-way Perfect Position front seats offered heating, ventilation, and massage. The second-row captain's chairs provided a pass-through to the third-row seat, which accommodated taller adults. Storage space was generous, and the extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The system was functional but not advanced, with a clunky navigation system and a wireless smartphone charger as standard equipment.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a widescreen head-up display, and a dual-screen Lincoln Play infotainment system. The Sync 4 system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, a navigation system, and Alexa Built-in. The digital assistant performed well, and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System provided excellent sound quality. The Lincoln Way app and Phone As A Key technology allowed for digital key access.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator included the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages, featuring Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise hands-free driving assist. BlueCruise worked on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones but struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.