Compare the2026 Honda CR-VVS 2026 Lincoln Nautilus

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Honda CR-V achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lincoln Nautilus has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Nautilus doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the CR-V and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 CR-V is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	CR-V	Nautilus
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	17.1%	29.7%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	317 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	217/317 lbs.	359/332 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	37 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	434/440 lbs.

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, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	CR-V	Nautilus
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	121 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	169
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	59 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CR-V is 1.4% less likely to roll over than the Nautilus.

There are over 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Honda CR-V Hybrid’s reliability 31 points higher than the Nautilus and the Honda CR-V is rated 37 points higher than the Nautilus.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated below average.

As tested in Car and Driver the CR-V Hybrid is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus 2.0 turbo:

	CR-V	Nautilus
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	7.3 sec

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the Nautilus:

			MPG
CR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		TrailSport 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
Nautilus
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Nautilus:

	CR-V	Nautilus
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid handles at .85 G’s, while the Nautilus Black Label pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Nautilus Black Label (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CR-V Hybrid’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (37 feet vs. 37.5 feet). The CR-V 1.5T’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (37.3 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 850 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The CR-V is 8.4 inches shorter than the Nautilus, making the CR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Nautilus doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Nautilus with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 36.4 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nautilus with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 71.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CR-V’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With an 8% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 15th.

The CR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Honda CR-V retains 61.29% to 65.48% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 43.1% resale value of the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus after five years, which can save the Honda’s owner up to $20017 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lincoln Nautilus isn't recommended.

The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “5Best Trucks/10Best” for 2025 and 5 more times in the last 25 years. The Nautilus has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by almost 12 to one during 2025.