2023 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that offered practicality and style for families. Its design featured sliding side doors, which made loading children into car seats a breeze, even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey provided a comfortable third-row seat, ensuring that additional passengers, such as grandparents or carpoolers, could travel without hassle. With ample cargo space, the Odyssey could transform into a vehicle with the capacity of a Chevrolet Suburban by folding down the third-row seat and removing the second-row seats. Despite the limited number of minivans available in the U.S. market, the Odyssey stood out with its stylish design, especially in the Elite trim, which included dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator was a full-size luxury SUV that emphasized comfort and utility. It featured power-deploying running boards for easy access and offered 30-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The Navigator's interior was spacious, with ample room in all three rows, making it suitable for taller adults. The SUV also provided generous storage space, including a large tray under the center console and smaller ones for third-row passengers. For those needing extra cargo space, the extended-length Navigator L model was available, offering significantly more room behind the third-row seat. The Navigator's cabin was luxurious, with quality materials and thoughtful design, although the front seats' numerous adjustments could be overwhelming.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It was a front-wheel-drive minivan with a 10-speed automatic transmission featuring pushbutton controls on the dashboard. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, its brakes tended to heat up during extended use, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 4WD drivetrain. The Navigator's EPA fuel economy rating was 18 mpg in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 15.6 mpg. The SUV offered five Lincoln Drive Modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an optional Hill Climb mode. While the Navigator's ride quality was inconsistent, the Excite mode improved handling on mountain roads. However, the SUV's size and weight posed challenges in urban environments and affected braking performance.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height compared to most SUVs. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan offered impressive storage space, including shelving in the front door panels and a floor tray between the dashboard and center console. The second-row seats were comfortable, with the option to remove the center section for additional space. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expandable to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator excelled in functionality, with power-deploying running boards for easy access and spacious seating in all three rows. The front seats offered 30-way power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, although finding the perfect setting could be challenging. The Navigator provided generous storage space, including a large tray under the center console and smaller ones for third-row passengers. The extended-length Navigator L model offered significantly more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seat and up to 120.2 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Navigator's interior was luxurious, with quality materials and thoughtful design.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, although its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. However, the rear-seat entertainment system was basic, with a single 10.2-inch display and limited media options. The Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad, but the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator featured a comprehensive suite of technology, including a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an available widescreen head-up display. The Sync 4 infotainment system offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Lincoln Connect services, and a navigation system with enhanced voice recognition. The Navigator's digital assistant was highly effective, understanding and responding to commands accurately. The SUV also featured a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D Audio System, providing exceptional sound quality. The Lincoln Way smartphone app and Phone As A Key technology allowed owners to unlock, start, and drive the Navigator using a digital key. However, the wireless smartphone charger tended to overheat devices.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the standard Honda Sensing suite, which encompassed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings or taking abrupt actions. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly positioned, and the radar's range was limited. Despite these issues, the Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 and available Lincoln Co-Pilot360 2.0 Drive packages. Notable features included Evasive Steering Assist, Intersection Assist, and BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assist system. BlueCruise worked on designated Hands-Free Blue Zones but struggled with curves, mixed pavement surfaces, and construction zones. It also lacked a lane-change assist function, requiring driver intervention. In a test scenario, BlueCruise responded poorly to a sudden lane change by another vehicle, causing excessive braking and suspension dive. The Navigator received a 5-star side-impact protection rating and a 4-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.