2021 Honda HR-V vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. This similarity was evident in its design, making it almost a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout was visually identical to the Pilot's, sharing the same awkward "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

Trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport came with features like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and a power rear liftgate. The Touring trim included front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, and a 10-speaker stereo system. The top-tier Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda's larger SUVs. It featured distinctive styling elements like upper and lower window lines that converged near the taillights, housing the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Sport model featured matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim.

Inside, the HR-V's styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. The EX and EX-L models included push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L adding leather upholstery. The HR-V's interior was solid and practical, though it lacked the luxury feel of higher-end vehicles.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well. The engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, but it had a switch to disable it. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). AWD was available on all trim levels, with FWD as standard. The HR-V's powertrain was underpowered for highway driving, and the CVT was ineffective. Competitors offered more powerful engine options. However, the HR-V's chassis made up for its engine, providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. The HR-V's AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not for rough terrain, and it was not rated for towing.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered generous cargo space, with 100.8 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep center bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the "Magic Seat" 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the seat folded down, it offered 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models). With the seat up, it provided 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures surpassed many competitors. The HR-V also excelled in rear-seat legroom, leading the segment. Front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The HR-V's interior featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, which was simple and easy to use.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required moving up to at least the EX trim to get these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. The audio interface lacked a tuning dial.

The base HR-V LX came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport and higher trim levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two available USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was somewhat small, and many competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard across all trim levels. Honda required buyers to upgrade from the base LX trim to get these features.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and top "Good" scores in most Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests. However, it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use, and a second-tier "Advanced" rating for front crash prevention tech.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and the top "Superior" rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it got "Marginal" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. The HR-V included Honda Sensing safety features on the EX and EX-L trim levels, which included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda's LaneWatch.