2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Honda Passport

For the 2021 Honda Pilot, styling was a significant focus with buyers placing as much importance on it as they did on reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. To address this, Honda introduced a 2019 refresh to afford the Pilot a rugged look, followed by a 2020 Black Edition that provided a trendy, blacked-out aesthetic. Despite these efforts, the design remained polarizing among consumers.

Buyers could choose from seven different trims of the 2021 Pilot: LX, EX, EX-L, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. These trims ranged in price from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard across all trims, with an option to add all-wheel drive (AWD) for an additional $2,000, except for the Elite and Black Edition trims where AWD came standard.

The Special Edition was a new introduction for 2021, bringing black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior features, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate. FWD models of the Special Edition had an MSRP of $38,960.

Honda’s Black Edition Pilot, which I had the chance to drive, was fully loaded. The only additional option was the $395 Platinum White Pearl paint, bringing the total sticker price to $51,435, inclusive of the $1,120 destination charge. For 2021, this edition was available in white, an upgrade from the previous year when it was only offered in black.

Inside, the Black Edition featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red perforations and inserts, red stitching, and ambient lighting. Unlike the Honda Odyssey, which was updated with Berber-style mats designed to hide dirt, the Pilot retained black mats that acted like Velcro to animal hair. Cleaning them required the use of a lint roller.

Materials throughout the Pilot were of high quality, even the hard plastic panels. The flat dashboard, thin windshield pillars, front quarter windows, low center console with a rolltop tray, and inboard armrests contributed to a minivan-like feel from the front seat. Unfortunately, this impression combined with the exterior design wasn’t particularly interesting.

For the 2021 Honda Passport, the vehicle bore a strong likeness to the Pilot. Essentially a shorter version with two rows of seats instead of three, it was easy to see the similarities. Aptly referred to by some as a "Pilot Sport," the Passport mirrored the Pilot in many respects.

Inside, the Passport’s dashboard was visually identical to the Pilot’s, continuing Honda’s tendency towards less conventional design choices like the “button shifter” for the automatic transmission. Despite this, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

The 2021 Passport came in Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims. The Sport trim offered features such as 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, a seven-speaker audio system, and a one-touch fold-down rear bench. The EX-L trim added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, auto-locking features, and power-adjustable front seats. The Touring trim included front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, an upgraded 10-speaker stereo system, satellite navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The Elite trim topped the range with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and wireless device charging. Aside from an Urban Package, the Passport did not offer additional option packages.

The 2021 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that either powered the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on the drivetrain. The available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system could direct up to 70% of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel, enhancing traction and performance in challenging conditions. Fuel efficiency was bolstered by variable-cylinder management and an automatic stop/start system. The EPA rated the AWD Pilot at 22 mpg in combined driving.

The Pilot’s ride and handling benefitted significantly from the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems, offering comfort and agility. The torque-vectoring AWD system, along with the Black Edition’s 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires, contributed to an engaging driving experience. Well-weighted steering, responsive brakes, and Intelligent Traction Management driving modes (Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand) added to the Pilot’s versatility. However, its modest 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires limited serious off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Honda Passport shared the same 3.5-liter V6 engine as the Pilot, generating the same horsepower and torque figures, and also utilized a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided impressive acceleration, with FWD standard and AWD as an option. The Passport’s suspension was tuned for a balance of comfort and refined handling. The AWD model included Intelligent Traction Management with modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud, along with 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it slightly more off-road capable than the Pilot. If towing, the FWD model could tow up to 3,500 pounds, whereas the AWD model could handle up to 5,000 pounds, highlighting its usefulness for more adventurous outings.

The 2021 Honda Pilot prioritized family utility, offering seating for up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The Black Edition trim featured leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats that were comfortable and supportive, although the front passenger’s seat provided only four-way adjustment compared to the driver’s 10-way adjustments. An elevated seating design helped support the passenger’s legs.

Captain’s chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on the Elite and Black Edition models. These chairs provided near-equal comfort to the front seats, complete with heating and inboard armrests. The second row of seats included side window shades, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a rear-seat entertainment system with an HDMI port and USB quick-charge ports.

Although the third-row seats were less comfortable for adults, offering a low and flat bottom cushion, storage solutions throughout the Pilot were abundant. Compartments were integrated into the door panels and the center console, including a rolltop storage tray. The Pilot also offered a spacious 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Folding down the third row expanded the cargo capacity to 46.8 cubic feet, and a maximum of 83.9 cubic feet was available with both the second and third rows folded down.

For the 2021 Honda Passport, with the rear seats folded, it provided an impressive 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space. With the second-row seats in use, it offered up to 50.5 cubic feet, along with an additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage. The EX-L trim came with a power liftgate, and higher Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position in the Passport afforded excellent visibility and a commanding road view. Both front and rear seats included deep door pockets, targeting convenience and practicality.

Most trims of the 2021 Honda Pilot offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. The new Special Edition added features like wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim equipped the SUV with navigation, upgraded HondaLink services with a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system.

While the infotainment system was satisfactory, the screen size was small compared to competitors, and the interface had some limitations, such as requiring specific prompts for voice recognition and lacking a tuning knob. Higher trims provided additional entertainment features, including a rear-seat entertainment system with a 115-volt power outlet, HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature.

For the 2021 Honda Passport, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, integrated into the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Although this offered a clear advantage over the Pilot, Honda’s infotainment controls still needed refinement. The system had dated graphics and a confusing layout, but a volume dial was available despite its feel being that of an afterthought.

Every 2021 Honda Pilot came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also included a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alerts. Although effective, the Honda Sensing system lacked refinement in operation, and the steering wheel’s lane-departure warning was too noticeable.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Pilot a five-star overall rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it top marks in most categories, except for an “acceptable” rating for front passenger small overlap frontal impact protection and headlight performance.

For the 2021 Honda Passport, advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control were standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport also received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high scores from the IIHS, with “Good” ratings across most tests, though only “Acceptable” for passenger-side small overlap crash tests, headlights, and child-seat anchor ease of use. The Passport also earned an “Advanced” rating for front crash prevention.