2019 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2019 INFINITI QX80, despite its age, maintained a commanding presence with its elegant front end, which was restyled in 2018 to align with other Infiniti models like the QX50 and Q60. The QX80's design featured slim, slanted LED headlights and a curved rectangular grille with a classic crosshatch pattern, giving it a refined look. The hood and front bumper had sensuous curves that contrasted with the upright, boxy profile starting behind the windshield. The rear-quarter glass and similarly shaped LED taillights, connected by a thin chrome strip, helped break up the body’s chunkiness. Standard 20-inch wheels, tall side mirrors, and a towering roof emphasized its big-rig persona. However, the turn signals on the rear bumper were cheap incandescent bulbs, which seemed out of place.

The Limited trim, new for 2019, added two-tone 22-inch rims, unique grey metallic paint, stainless steel running boards, and a special black-and-white interior. This trim featured black and white leather surfaces, microsuede inserts, and wavy stitching on the seats. The interior was covered in soft, padded leather, including the steering wheel, doors, dash, center stack, floor-mat edges, and grab handles. The roof was covered in microsuede, and the interior was finished with white and black contrast stitching, white piping, and light gray ash wood. Despite the high-quality materials and assembly, the doors were thin-sounding and poorly insulated, leaking cold air in freezing conditions.

The 2020 Honda Passport followed Honda's traditional design approach, offering a practical and appealing package that attracted loyal buyers. The exterior of the Passport resembled a pared-down Honda Pilot but with a more rugged and athletic appearance, fitting between the Pilot and CR-V in size, capability, looks, and price point. The five-passenger Passport came in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with the Elite trim being fully loaded. All trims featured a scratch-resistant matte black grille and bumper, 20-inch black alloy wheels with all-weather tires, black-rimmed LED headlights, chrome exhaust finishers, and gloss-black trim.

The Passport had more ground clearance than the Pilot, with an additional 0.5 inches on front-wheel-drive models and 1.1 inches on all-wheel-drive models, enhancing its off-road capability. The interior of the Passport was sophisticated, with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-to-the-touch materials. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, an illuminated beverage holder, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and width, with a button-heavy shifting mechanism taking up minimal space. The materials and layout were practical and familiar to Honda buyers, ensuring comfort and functionality.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 excelled in towing capacity, boasting an 8,500-pound tow rating, which was higher than its competitors, including the Mercedes GLS, BMW X7, Lexus LX 570, and Cadillac Escalade. The QX80's 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, provided ample power for hauling and driving. The 7-speed automatic transmission was quick to shift and could rev-match downshifts like a sports car. The QX80 offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with selectable 4-wheel drive available. The 4WD system could automatically route power to the front or rear or lock the split 50/50 in High or Low range. Snow and Tow modes aided in specific conditions.

The QX80 featured a fully independent suspension with Hydraulic Body Motion Control, which adapted to fast corners and rough surfaces. This system interconnected each damper’s hydraulic chamber with a series of pipes, counteracting motions from adjacent or opposite dampers. While the ride was controlled, the QX80's three-ton weight and high center of gravity were always noticeable. Fuel economy was poor, averaging 15 mpg over 580 miles of mostly highway driving, with EPA ratings of 13 mpg city, 19 highway, and 15 combined for the 4WD model.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations but faltered in fuel economy. Front-wheel-drive models achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while all-wheel-drive models achieved 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The large 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 400 miles of range.

The Passport performed well in various conditions, including the flats of Fresno, California, and the peaks of Yosemite National Park. The Elite trim came standard with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, which provided a planted feel on the road and reassurance in inclement weather. The system could send 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent to either rear wheel. Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes were available with all-wheel drive, enhancing the Passport's off-road capability. The Passport could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 offered seven-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs and power-reclining and folding third-row seats. An optional second-row bench allowed for eight passengers. The captain’s chairs were luxurious and comfortable, with an option to tip forward for easier third-row access. The QX80 provided 95.1 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats flat and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The interior was spacious, with wide central armrests and ample storage space. Standard features included 3-zone climate control, but the QX80 lacked a cooled drink bin and 4-zone climate control. The heating system was slow to warm up, but the Limited trim included heated front and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical, with a right-sized design that provided good visibility and spacious seats for four adults. The Passport did not offer a third row. Front-row occupants benefited from height-adjustable seatbelts, and the second row had three full LATCH connections for child safety seats. The seats were comfortable, with ample knee- and legroom, and cloth upholstery was standard, with perforated leather upholstery available. The Passport offered tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades, enhancing comfort for backseat occupants.

The Passport excelled in cargo space, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The load floor was high, but a power liftgate was standard. Heating and cooling functionalities were effective, and the Passport had ample small-item storage, including a large center console and secondary shelf space on the front doors. Harder plastic surfaces were easy to clean, and piano black trim pieces could be wiped fresh with a microfiber cloth.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80's dash was user-friendly, with large knobs and well-marked buttons. However, the main touchscreen and controls were slow to respond in cold weather. The QX80's technology was outdated, with a low-resolution monochrome display on the instrument panel and a poorly rendered navigation screen. It lacked Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a head-up display, a panoramic moonroof, and massaging seats. The 15-speaker Bose stereo was only adequate. The rear-view mirror featured a live camera-feed overlay, and the rear entertainment system accepted USB and HDMI inputs, but overall, the QX80's tech offerings were lacking for its price.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display monitor, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The Passport's dashboard design was a bit outdated, but the switchgear was reliable and practical.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 came standard with forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Optional safety features included lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The QX80 did not perform well in NHTSA frontal crash tests, scoring 2 out of 5 stars for the driver and 3 for the passenger. It scored 5 stars in side-impact tests and earned an overall 4-star rating. The IIHS had not tested the QX80, and its older body structure was not as strong as it should be.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, achieving 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 System, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also had a standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection. While it lacked some advanced driver-assist technology, the Passport's safety features were well-suited for most drivers.