2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform that Honda also used for the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat and with distinct styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, featuring standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes. Despite its rugged appearance, the TrailSport was more about looks than actual off-road capability.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE received a subtle exterior makeover that was easy to miss unless viewed up close. The front grille featured clever Mercedes star logos, and the headlights and taillights had minor updates. Standard LED headlights and optional multi-beam LED headlights were available. The GLE 450e test vehicle, finished in Twilight Blue metallic and equipped with 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, looked particularly striking.

The interior of the GLE 450e exuded luxury with Macchiato beige and black leather upholstery and natural grain brown walnut trim. Mercedes offered a wide range of interior color choices and trims, ensuring a high-quality and robust-looking cabin. The GLE's sophisticated design and attention to detail made it stand out in the competitive luxury SUV segment.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard on the EX-L trim, while the TrailSport and Elite trims came with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The V6 engine provided smooth and strong performance, with the Passport achieving 22 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The TrailSport trim averaged 21.3 mpg during testing.

The i-VTM4 system offered mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport performed well on twisty roads, its off-road capabilities were limited. The SUV's brakes, however, showed signs of heating up and vibrating during mountain descents, which was concerning given its 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines and a twin-turbo V8 producing 603 horsepower in the AMG GLE 63 S. The GLE 450e, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor, delivered a combined output of 381 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission sent power to all four wheels, allowing the GLE 450e to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

The GLE 450e's electric-only driving range was estimated at 40 miles, and it could operate as an EV at speeds up to 87 mph. The transition between gas and electric power was seamless, and the suspension provided a smooth and comfortable ride. The GLE's sophisticated steering made it easy to maneuver, despite its large size.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit, thanks to its large doors and low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, with standard leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, headroom, and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows providing an open and airy feel.

The Passport had plenty of storage options, including a massive center console storage bin, front door panel shelving, and rear door panel cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet of volume behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The Passport's simple utility and comfort made it easy to live with.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE provided ample space for adults in both the first and second rows. The cabin felt light and airy, thanks to the light beige upholstery and excellent outward visibility. The GLE offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, which compared favorably with rivals like the BMW X5 but fell short of the Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90.

The GLE 450e came with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power tilt/sliding sunroof, and a power liftgate. The Exclusive and Pinnacle trim levels added features like a Burmester surround-sound audio system, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, and a head-up instrument display. Additional options included a panoramic sunroof, illuminated running boards, soft-close doors, and heated rear seats.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim included a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for the Home menu, Back, screen brightness, and stereo volume, but lacked a stereo tuning knob. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, and Apple CarPlay was preferred for ease of use. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's technology was not particularly advanced.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with two 12.3-inch screens serving as the digital instrument panel and main infotainment screen. The system could be controlled via touch commands, a control pad on the center console, or touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an improved "Hey Mercedes" voice command system. The head-up instrument display and augmented reality navigation were praised for their clarity and convenience. However, the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel could be overly sensitive, causing issues like sudden volume changes.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions were intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic. The Passport received five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a comprehensive lineup of active safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, hands-free park assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor. The optional Driver Assistance package added active blind-spot assist, active lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. These features were unobtrusive during everyday driving and provided an extra layer of safety.