2022 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to both vehicles sharing a platform with the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat and with distinct styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about aesthetics than actual capability. The TrailSport featured standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for various conditions. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport model tested priced at $44,095.

Lincoln made subtle styling changes to the 2022 Navigator, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a 20-inch design now standard. The front end was restyled, featuring an Audi-esque grille that some felt reduced the Navigator's elegance. Despite this, the rest of the updates were successful, including the new Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence.

Inside, the Navigator continued to impress with quality materials and a mid-century modern design. The new Sync 4 infotainment system featured a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen display, enhancing the SUV's tech appeal. The Navigator was available in standard and long-wheelbase styles with Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims. The Black Label test vehicle, with its Central Park theme and Manhattan Green paint, was priced at $106,530.

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. Front-wheel drive was standard on the EX-L, while all-wheel drive was standard on the TrailSport and Elite trims. The V6 engine was smooth and felt stronger than its ratings suggested, with the TrailSport model averaging 21.3 mpg. The Passport's i-VTM4 AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed.

The Passport offered a firm, communicative ride and athletic handling, making it enjoyable to drive on various roads. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, which was concerning given the SUV's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 8,100 to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview technology improved ride quality by preparing for road imperfections in advance.

The Navigator's new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response. During testing, the Navigator handled various driving conditions, including snow and mud, with ease, thanks to its 4WD system, 9.7 inches of ground clearance, and appropriate driving modes. The Navigator 4WD averaged 18.6 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit, with large, comfortable front seats featuring leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows providing an open feel. The Passport's cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator's 30-way power-adjustable front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain's chairs also offered heating, ventilation, and massage functions, along with the updated Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system. The third-row seat remained roomy and supportive, with the Navigator's independent rear suspension design contributing to its comfort.

The Navigator offered generous storage and cargo space, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seat (34.3 cubic feet for Navigator L), 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded (73.3 cubic feet for Navigator L), and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet with the second row collapsed (120.2 cubic feet for Navigator L).

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, including a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, making Apple CarPlay a preferred option. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but overall, the Passport's tech was not advanced.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator's new Sync 4 infotainment system featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system was user-friendly, with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate functions. Sync 4's voice recognition system was improved but not perfect. The upgraded Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system included Amazon Fire TV, providing access to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The test vehicle also featured a 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system, delivering exceptional sound quality.

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. However, some Honda Sensing features were less refined, with lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions being intrusive. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance, which earned four stars. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Road Edge Detection, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. A surround-view camera system was also newly standard. Intersection Assist could automatically brake for unsafe movements, while Road Edge Detection steered the SUV away from road edges. Active Park Assist 2.0 handled parking tasks, and ActiveGlide provided semi-autonomous, hands-free driving on approved highways. ActiveGlide performed well but required driver attention, as it did not always identify threats. These systems represented steps toward fully autonomous driving but still required responsible driving.