2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport was a nod to classic Honda standards. It had strong familial ties in terms of design, drawing heavily from the Honda playbook that kept buyers coming back. To the discerning eye, the Passport appeared as a condensed version of the Honda Pilot, yet with the ruggedness and athleticism that positioned it nicely between the Pilot and the CR-V.

The five-passenger 2020 Passport came in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Its exterior showcased a scratch-resistant matte black grille and bumper, 20-inch black alloy wheels, black-rimmed LED headlights, chrome exhaust finishers, and gloss-black trim. The added ground clearance—0.5 inches on FWD models and 1.1 inches on AWD models—gave it the stature needed for mild off-roading adventures.

Inside, the 2020 Passport's cabin was both sophisticated and functional. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and heated rear outboard seats. The interior design capitalized on space and familiarity, evoking comfort for longtime Honda patrons. Lower trims offered additional packages to enhance capability and aesthetics, like Urban and Adventure packs.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport maintained its image as a shorter version of the Pilot, lacking a third row but retaining visual and functional similarities. It too came in Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims. The basic Sport model included essentials like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, and a tri-zone climate control system. Moving up, the EX-L added features such as leather upholstery and a power moonroof. The Touring and Elite trims enhanced this further with front-and-rear parking sensors, hands-free liftgates, and even a wireless charging pad for the Elite.

The interior retained the same dash layout from the Pilot, implementing the same 'button shifter' mechanism. While practical, these design choices sometimes felt aged compared to more modern competitors. However, the seating remained spacious and high-quality materials filled the cabin, ensuring an elegant feel overall.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a single engine option across all trims: a 3.5-liter V6 that generated 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for various driving situations, though its fuel economy was less than stellar. FWD models achieved an EPA rating of 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while AWD models dropped slightly to 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Despite this, the 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for decent range.

The Passport excelled in diverse conditions, from city driving to mountainous off-roads. Tested in high-altitude settings like Yosemite, the Passport performed without a hitch, even at elevations surpassing 9,000 feet. The Elite trim with its torque-vectoring AWD system felt especially planted, smoothly handling Californian winding roads with confidence. The AWD Pasport showcased Snow, Sand, and Mud modes, proving it was more than just a city SUV—it handled mudded trails outside Houston effortlessly.

For 2021, Honda’s Passport retained the trusty 3.5-liter V6 engine, consistent across all trims, also producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the engine's performance was strong, and the automatic transmission managed the power competently. However, the engine stop-start system could be abrupt at times.

The 2021 Passport focused on providing a comfortable and refined ride, optimized for commuters and weekend adventurers rather than intense off-roading. It offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and included the same Intelligent Traction Management system as the 2020. In terms of towing, FWD models were rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could handle up to 5,000 pounds, mirroring the previous year’s capabilities.

The interior practicality of the 2020 Honda Passport was notably strong. Despite its compact exterior dimensions, mimicking those of the CR-V, the Passport proved 'right-sized.' Visibility was excellent, and the seating arrangement comfortably accommodated four adults. Cargo space was generous, providing 41.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expanding further with the seats folded. The SUV also offered the most under-floor storage in its class. Tri-zone climate control and sunshades for the second row ensured passenger comfort, and the overall storage solutions for small items were impressive.

The 2021 Honda Passport upped the ante in the storage department. With the rear seats up, it offered 50.5 cubic feet, and with seats down, it expanded to a roomy 100.8 cubic feet. An under-floor storage tray added an extra 2.5 cubic feet of space. From the EX-L trim upwards, features like a power liftgate appeared, with the Touring and Elite trims boasting a hands-free power liftgate. The visibility remained top-notch, and the seating arrangement allowed for a comfortable upright position, enhancing the driving experience. Both front and rear seats had ample storage pockets and generous headroom and legroom.

In terms of technology, the 2020 Honda Passport offered a straightforward but effective setup. The base Sport trim came with a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via wired connections. A practical manual power button and volume knob kept controls user-friendly. Across trims, the Passport included Bluetooth, USB ports, and a seven-speaker audio system, while higher trims added a 10-speaker system, Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite radio, and wireless charging. The dashboard design, however, felt somewhat dated.

For 2021, Honda made several key enhancements. Notably, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay became standard across all trims, leveraging an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This move gave the 2021 model an edge in smartphone integration over its predecessor. Despite these improvements, the system’s graphics remained dated, and the menu layout was not intuitive.

Safety was a priority for the 2020 Honda Passport, which boasted impressive scores from both the IIHS and the NHTSA. Earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, the Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included features like collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic detection, and parking sensors.

Similarly, the 2021 Honda Passport held its own in safety. Equipped with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning as standard, the Passport achieved a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS ratings were strong, though slightly less stellar—achieving 'Good' in most categories but with 'Acceptable' ratings for passenger-side small overlap front crash tests and headlights.