2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 INFINITI QX50

The 2019 INFINITI QX50 was wider and taller than its predecessor, offering two extra inches of ground clearance and more interior space. The trunk provided 31.4 cubic feet of space behind modular rear seats that both slid and reclined. Despite the increased cargo space, rear legroom remained ample, even for a 6’4” individual, although the panoramic sunroof did bring the headliner uncomfortably close. The redesigned interior was spacious, attractive, and filled with high-quality materials and a new infotainment system. It was also exceptionally quiet, thanks to a noise-canceling system, making highway conversations a breeze.

The QX50 came in three trims: Pure, Luxe, and Essential. The base Pure trim, starting at $36,550, included features like LED headlights, a hands-free liftgate, and a forward-collision warning system. The Luxe trim added LED fog lights, a panoramic sunroof, and a blind-spot monitoring system for $39,400. The top-tier Essential trim, priced at $43,350, offered navigation, 3-zone climate controls, and leather seats. Optional packages like the $7,500 Sensory package added luxury and tech features, while safety packages included ProPilot assist, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2020 Honda Passport followed Honda’s traditional design playbook, offering a rugged and athletic exterior that positioned it between the Honda Pilot and CR-V. The five-passenger Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim, as tested, came loaded with features like a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The Passport had more ground clearance than the Pilot, making it more capable off-road.

Inside, the Passport’s cabin was sophisticated and well-appointed, with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and heated rear outboard seats. The design emphasized spaciousness, with comfortable seats and ample legroom. The Passport also offered practical features like height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and a roomy cargo area with 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. The interior was designed for utility, with thoughtful storage solutions and easy-to-clean surfaces.

The 2019 INFINITI QX50 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the world’s first mass-produced variable-compression engine. This innovative engine could vary its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1, balancing power and efficiency. It produced 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, but the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was a weak point, struggling to manage the power effectively. The QX50’s 0-60 time was 6.4 seconds, slower than the previous V6 model. Fuel efficiency was decent, with an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, but real-world tests showed it struggled to reach these numbers.

The QX50’s ride prioritized comfort over sportiness, handling corners and road imperfections well. However, the Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) system, included in the ProACTIVE package, was problematic. It lacked a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and tires, resulting in inconsistent and unnatural steering feedback. This system could be avoided by not opting for the ProACTIVE package.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided smooth performance in various driving conditions, from city streets to mountain roads. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models, and slightly lower for all-wheel-drive versions.

The Passport’s all-wheel-drive system, standard on the Elite trim, featured torque-vectoring capabilities, enhancing stability on winding roads and off-road trails. The system could send 70% of engine torque to the rear axle and 100% to either rear wheel, providing confidence in inclement weather and off-road conditions. The Passport also offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes for added versatility. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming many competitors.

The 2019 INFINITI QX50’s interior was a mix of high-quality materials and confusing tech. The fit and finish were excellent, and the cabin was spacious. However, the abundance of screens and controls made the dashboard look cluttered and complicated to use. The infotainment system suffered from input delays, particularly in the navigation system, causing frustration. The shifter design was also problematic, with the “PARK” button located behind the shifter, leading to potential safety concerns.

The 2020 Honda Passport excelled in practicality. Its size was just right, providing good visibility and spacious seating for four adults. The seats were comfortable, with ample knee and legroom, and the cabin featured height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most in its class, and the load floor was high but manageable. The interior included thoughtful storage solutions, like a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The heating and cooling systems were effective, and the small-item storage was well-designed.

The 2019 INFINITI QX50 offered advanced safety tech, but only on the top-tier Essential trim with the $2,000 ProActive package. This package included intelligent cruise control, blind-spot intervention, lane-departure warning, and ProPilot assist. The base QX50 was well-equipped with tech features, but the infotainment system was frustrating to use due to input delays.

The 2020 Honda Passport’s base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The dashboard design was a bit outdated, but the switchgear was reliable.

The 2019 INFINITI QX50’s safety tech was limited to higher trims, and it had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. The lack of available safety features on lower trims was a drawback.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added features like dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.