Compare the2024 Honda PassportVS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Nautilus’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Passport. But it costs extra on the Nautilus.

Both the Passport and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passport for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Nautilus.

There are over 55 percent more Honda dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport’s warranty.

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Nautilus have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 5 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (280 vs. 250) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Passport is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Nautilus (19.5 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Passport has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Nautilus. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Nautilus doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Nautilus.

The Passport has 6.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Nautilus (114.9 vs. 108.3).

The Passport has 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nautilus.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Nautilus with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 37.2 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nautilus with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 68.8 cubic feet).

The Passport’s cargo area is larger than the Nautilus’ in almost every dimension:

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Passport, using the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Nautilus.

The Passport’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Nautilus’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Passport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Nautilus’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Nautilus only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Passport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Nautilus doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Passport is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Nautilus’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Nautilus Reserve/Black Label offers wireless charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Passport and the Lincoln Nautilus, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Honda Passport outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by over two to one during 2022.