2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee underwent a significant design transformation from its previous iteration, which had a polarizing appearance. Initially rumored to be a Fiat design, the Cherokee's styling was unique and distinct when it debuted in 2013. By 2019, Jeep had refined the Cherokee's look to be more conventional, with a typical headlight-above/fog-light-below configuration and a more standard rear hatch design. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining a practical and logical layout reminiscent of a downsized Grand Cherokee. The Cherokee offered a range of trims, each with varying levels of luxury and off-road capability, from the base Latitude to the upscale Overland and rugged Trailhawk.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Passport was a model that adhered closely to Honda's design philosophy, offering a practical and rugged appearance. Positioned between the CR-V and Pilot, the Passport featured a more athletic and robust exterior. The interior was sophisticated, with a focus on utility and comfort, offering spacious seating for five and a well-appointed cabin. The Passport came in four trims, with the Elite trim providing a host of luxury features. The Passport's design emphasized practicality and comfort, with ample cargo space and thoughtful storage solutions, making it a strong contender in the midsize SUV segment.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of engine options, including a new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid acceleration but was noted for its noise. The Cherokee also featured a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and a 3.2-liter V6 engine delivering 271 horsepower. A 9-speed automatic transmission was standard, with various 4-wheel-drive systems available, including the off-road-focused Active Drive Lock on the Trailhawk trim. The Cherokee excelled in off-road capability, particularly the Trailhawk, which offered impressive trail performance and a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds with the V6 engine.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations, its fuel economy was less impressive, with the AWD model achieving 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The Passport's torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system enhanced its road handling, especially in challenging conditions. The Passport also offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes, making it more capable off-road than expected. With a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, the Passport outperformed many of its rivals in this regard.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee featured a functional control layout with ample storage solutions, including deep door pockets and a center console. However, its cargo space was limited, offering just 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was below average for its class. The hands-free power liftgate was a convenient option, though its sensor was sometimes finicky.

The 2020 Honda Passport excelled in practicality, offering spacious seating for four adults and ample cargo space. With 41.2 cubic feet of cargo area behind the rear seats, it surpassed most two-row SUVs in its class. The Passport's interior was comfortable, with available leather upholstery and tri-zone climate control. The SUV also featured thoughtful storage solutions, including a large center console and additional shelf space in the doors, making it ideal for road trips and family outings.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered an 8.3-inch screen with updated graphics and improved responsiveness. The Uconnect system was praised for its user-friendly interface and customizable screens, setting a high standard for infotainment systems.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base model featured a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims included an 8.0-inch Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was practical and easy to navigate, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Additional features on higher trims included a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, enhancing the Passport's tech offerings.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and electronic stability control. Optional packages added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and forward-collision avoidance. The Technology Group package provided advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control and a self-parking feature.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning high scores from the IIHS and NHTSA. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection, ensuring comprehensive safety coverage.