2021 Nissan Murano 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, both inside and out. The Passport’s dash layout was visually identical to that of the Pilot, including Honda’s 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, each offering a range of features from 20-inch alloy wheels and LED fog lights to heated and ventilated front seats and wireless device charging.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that was once cutting-edge but had become more mainstream. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were no longer unique. The interior was more conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use. Trims for the 2021 Murano included S, SV, SL, and Platinum, with features ranging from an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and semi-aniline premium leather seats.

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, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport’s ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with 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 Nissan Murano also featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, but it produced 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, routed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It offered standard FWD and available AWD. The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, but the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano had a comfort-first ride, with refined driving characteristics that allowed it to handle corners well while soaking up bumps. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, one of the lowest in its class.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered up to 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space 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 featured a deep bin and an open cargo tray. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets, and the rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with reclining and sliding functionality.

The 2021 Nissan Murano provided up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. While this was less than some competitors, the Murano made up for it with ease of use. The center console was loaded with trays and cubbies, and the traditional shifter design was user-friendly. The Murano excelled in passenger comfort, with plenty of headroom and legroom in both rows, and the second-row seats had partial reclining functionality.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of smartphone connectivity features was a significant advantage.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and hard buttons and dials flanking the screen. It also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

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 features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and top "Good" scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured standard driver assistance features as part of Nissan Safety Shield 360, including reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional standard features included forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors.