2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its design featured a new grille reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz, with LED lighting extending through the grille to illuminate the Lincoln star logo. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was a standout, boasting a full-width screen as its crown jewel, complemented by high-quality materials like open-pore wood and fine leather. The Jet Appearance Package offered additional customization with two-tone paint and black exterior trim.

In contrast, the 2025 Honda Pilot, available in Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims, aimed for a rugged look with its Black Edition featuring black wheels and blacked-out exterior trim. Inside, black leather seats with red perforation accents and red ambient lighting added a unique touch. The Pilot's design was practical, with thoughtful storage solutions, but lacked the "wow factor" of its competitors. The Black Edition's custom look was more suited for suburban environments, despite its off-roading capabilities in the TrailSport trim.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for a hybrid setup, boosting power to 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid offered a range of over 600 miles, making it a practical choice for long drives. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. The Pilot's AWD system provided hill descent control and torque vectoring, enhancing its off-road capabilities. However, the Pilot's fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 20 mpg on evaluation. The handling was predictable and secure, but the lack of an adaptive-damping suspension system affected ride quality on uneven roads.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats, with the Black Label model featuring 24-way Perfect Position front seats with massage functions. Rear passengers enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, making it comfortable for taller individuals. The Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images for relaxation. Cargo space was ample, with 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded down, though seating was limited to five.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. The Black Edition's front row had a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, but the front passenger seat lacked adjustability. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded down. Features like a hands-free power tailgate and triple-zone climate control added convenience.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The inclusion of Google Maps and Alexa Built-in enhanced voice controls, while over-the-air updates kept the system current. However, some controls were distracting, such as the unlabelled steering wheel controls and vent adjustments.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the wireless CarPlay function was problematic, and the voice recognition system was inconsistent. The Pilot's CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, but the overall technology package met only basic expectations.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings, but the 2024 model had not yet been rated.

The 2025 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition added parking sensors and a multi-view camera system with TrailWatch. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems had issues, affecting driver confidence. The Pilot earned high safety ratings, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it a five-star overall rating.