2020 Toyota RAV4 vs 2019 Honda Passport

The 2019 Honda Passport was essentially a stubbier version of the Pilot, sharing the same wheelbase, doors, windshield, and hood. It stood about an inch and a half taller and had a nearly 1-inch lift in ride height over the Pilot. The Passport's design was boxier and more broad-shouldered, featuring an enlarged blacked-out grille, restyled front bumper, gloss-black mirrors, window trim, and standard black 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Passport mirrored the Pilot with an upright dash, digital instrument panel, and glossy black touchscreen. The fit and finish were above average, with soft and supportive leather seats and a high seating position. However, some interior elements felt dated, and the rear door panels were less padded compared to the front.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4, redesigned for the 2019 model year, had a bolder and more angular appearance. The Adventure trim improved off-roading capability with a torque-vectoring AWD system, multiple driving modes, and downhill assist control. The new TRD Off-Road trim took it further with matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a TRD suspension setup. Inside, the TRD Off-Road featured TRD logos, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. The cabin had quality construction with plush padding and soft-touch trim, contrasting with some inexpensive-looking plastic. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road was near the top of the trim-level ladder, offering a blend of equipment and value.

The 2019 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. AWD was optional on all trims except the Elite, where it was standard. The engine provided strong performance, especially in Sport mode, but the 9-speed transmission had a notable delay when manually downshifting from fifth to fourth gear. The Passport had light steering and a soft suspension, making it less sporty despite its eager engine. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with AWD (3,500 pounds without). Fuel economy was an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined for AWD models, with real-world averages around 21 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid model offered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving but was not available with the TRD Off-Road trim. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well but occasionally struggled with gear selection. The TRD Off-Road model had a torque-vectoring AWD system, multi-terrain select settings, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, making it capable off-road. The RAV4 averaged 23.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg combined. The TRD Off-Road excelled in urban environments, handling speed humps and providing a comfortable ride.

The 2019 Honda Passport offered ample space with 41.2 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and 77.9 cubic feet with them folded. An additional storage bin was located under the cargo floor. The interior was airy, with tall windows and a high seating position. Standard features included three-zone climate control, heated outboard rear seats, additional USB ports, and manual window shades. The instrument panel was easy to read, and controls were logically placed. However, the infotainment screen and surrounding trim smudged easily, and the gear selector required an adjustment period.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 had easy ingress and egress, with a low and sporty driving position in the 8-way adjustable driver's seat. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but provided good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat on hot days. The Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat offered generous legroom, and interior storage was plentiful. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 69.8 cubic feet with it folded. The test vehicle had a robust roof rack and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

The 2019 Honda Passport's EX-L trim and above featured an 8-inch high-res touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. The Garmin navigation system was fast and accurate, with excellent voice recognition and live traffic data. Honda Sensing was standard, including forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. However, advanced features like stolen-vehicle tracking and remote unlocking were reserved for the top trims. The lack of optional tech packages for lower trims was a drawback.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4's infotainment system varied by trim, with a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months. The TRD Off-Road trim had an 8-inch system with superb voice-recognition technology. The optional Technology Package added wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror. The system was user-friendly, with menu shortcut buttons and separate climate controls.

The 2019 Honda Passport included Honda Sensing driver assists and blind-spot monitoring on EX-L and above trims. The NHTSA had not rated the Passport overall but gave it 4 out of 5 stars for front crash tests and 5 stars for side-impact tests. The IIHS had not tested the Passport but awarded the mechanically identical 2018 Pilot a Top Safety Pick rating, though it scored only Acceptable for the passenger-side frontal crash test. The Passport lacked knee airbags, indicating room for improvement.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and more. The systems operated smoothly and accurately. Toyota also provided a free 1-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The IIHS awarded the RAV4 a Top Safety Pick rating for models with full LED, curve adaptive headlights. The RAV4 received top marks for crash protection and ADAS performance.