2023 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus was an attractive SUV, boasting a balanced design that avoided awkwardness while maintaining a distinctive character. Lincoln's attention to detail was evident, ensuring the Nautilus stood out without being overly flashy. Upon approaching the vehicle at night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence provided a welcoming touch. Inside, the test vehicle featured light grey premium leather upholstery, with other interior colour options available. Despite its overall decadence, some elements like the centre console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces appeared somewhat cheap. The Nautilus Reserve model in Canada was priced at $59,800, excluding a $2,395 destination charge. The optional Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, priced at $1,900, were ideal for long drives.

The 2023 Honda CR-V adopted a cleaner and slightly more aggressive look compared to its predecessor, with a blunt nose, grille, long hood, and stretched wheelbase. While it lacked the personality of the previous generation, its conservative styling promised longevity. The CR-V EX-L featured 18-inch alloy wheels and dark-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside, leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, and shift knob elevated the interior from the standard cloth upholstery. The dashboard, inspired by the latest Civic, incorporated metal mesh trim and air vents, creating a clear division between the upper and lower sections. The interior exuded quality and simplicity, with a larger touchscreen infotainment system, power-adjustable front passenger seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and power rear liftgate. Canadian prices started at $34,240 for the CR-V LX-B with FWD, with the EX-L AWD priced at $43,390 before fees.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It featured an 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD in Canada. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine, producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, was available for an additional $4,000. The Nautilus offered Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behaviour, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. The SUV's 68-litre fuel tank and twin-turbo V6 achieved a fuel consumption rating of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Over 1,400 kilometres, it averaged 9.4 L/100 km. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, with a quiet and comfortable ride, enhanced by a 19-speaker Revel audio system. Despite its shared engineering with the Ford Edge, the Nautilus displayed unexpected grace and athleticism on mountain roads.

The 2023 Honda CR-V retained the previous generation's turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, generating 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 179 lb-ft of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. It used a CVT to power the front or all four wheels. While the CVT's droning noise was noticeable during hard acceleration, the CR-V's ride and handling were dynamically satisfying. Honda refined the suspension, steering, and brakes, allowing the CR-V to handle various road conditions with ease. The SUV achieved impressive fuel economy, with a combined driving rating of 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres, and averaged 8.1 L/100 km on a mountainous route. Despite the CVT's drawbacks, the CR-V remained refined and enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats provided exceptional comfort. Rear passengers enjoyed heated outboard seating positions and air conditioning vents, though legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. Practical storage space was adequate, with a hands-free power liftgate revealing 1,055 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,948 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Honda CR-V claimed to be the roomiest yet, though the driver's seat felt more car-like than SUV-like. Outward visibility was excellent, and the redesigned seats offered comfort. Heated front seats and dual-zone climate control were standard, with heated rear seats available on higher trims. The second row felt more spacious, with ample legroom and adjustable seatbacks. Storage options were plentiful, though lined with hard plastic. The CR-V's cargo area offered 1,113 litres of space, expandable to 2,166 litres with the rear seats folded. The Hybrid model had slightly reduced cargo capacity.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. It included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The system offered a user-friendly interface, physical stereo and climate controls, and a natural voice recognition system. The Revel audio system provided excellent sound quality. Phone as a Key technology allowed smartphone use as a digital key.

The 2023 Honda CR-V had a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity, SiriusXM radio, wireless charging, and an upgraded sound system. The top-tier Touring Hybrid offered a Bose premium sound system and navigation. While the EX-L's technology was improved, it lacked some features compared to competitors. The new tech brought the CR-V up to par with rivals but didn't exceed them.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Black Label added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, and a surround-view camera. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Honda CR-V improved its driver assist systems with Honda Sensing, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and more. New features included a seatbelt reminder, rear-seat reminder, and traffic sign recognition. The CR-V's safety tech met current standards but had room for improvement. The CR-V was built to Honda's ACE body structure standards and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. NHTSA had not yet tested the new model.