2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 Toyota 4Runner

The 2019 Toyota 4Runner had a rugged and aggressive design that was a product of necessity rather than style. Its stubby front and rear ends provided steep approach and departure angles, making it a true off-road vehicle. The 4Runner's large tires and flared fenders were not just for show; they were essential for its off-road capabilities. The trim levels ranged from the base SR5 to the range-topping TRD Pro, each offering various features like 17-inch alloy wheels, under-body skid plates, and a power up/down rear window. Inside, the 4Runner had an older interior with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The SR5 Premium trim added heated side mirrors, heated front seats, and SofTex upholstery, while the TRD Off-Road trims included off-road gear like a locking rear differential and crawl control.

The 2020 Honda Passport had a more modern and sophisticated look, with exterior styling cues that made it appear more rugged and athletic than the Honda Pilot and CR-V. The Passport came in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim was 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 featured a well-appointed cabin with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-to-the-touch materials. The Elite trim included perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory. The design emphasized spaciousness and practicality, with ample knee- and legroom for all passengers.

The 2019 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produced 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission, sending power to either the rear wheels or available 4WD with low-range. The V6 engine, dating back to 2002, had characteristics similar to a V8, making the 4Runner feel like a truck. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had off-road features like a locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select system, and crawl control. However, the 4Runner's fuel economy was poor, with 4WD models returning just 17 mpg city, 20 highway, and 18 combined.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generated 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and slightly lower figures with all-wheel drive. The Passport's torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system could send 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent to either rear wheel, providing reassurance in inclement weather and off-road conditions. 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 Toyota 4Runner offered a fully enclosed cabin with ample interior space. Front-seat legroom was generous, and the second-row space was also plentiful. The 4Runner had nearly 90 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, making it highly practical for outdoor activities. The interior featured a 6.1-inch touchscreen, large knobs for easy operation, and a simple yet functional design. The 4Runner's cargo space was significantly larger than that of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, making it a more daily-drivable SUV.

The 2020 Honda Passport was described as practical, with a right-sized design that provided good visibility and spacious seats for four adults. The Passport offered height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections in the second row, and available tri-zone automatic climate control. The SUV had 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The Passport's load floor was a bit high, but a power liftgate was standard. The interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, like a large center console and secondary shelf space on the front doors, making it easy to store small items.

The 2019 Toyota 4Runner lacked modern infotainment features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SR5 Premium trim came with the upgraded Entune system, which included navigation and Siri Eyes Free. The system was basic but straightforward, with small fonts and a familiar interface. The lack of modern connectivity options might have been a relief for those who preferred simplicity.

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 had pinch, swipe, and tap functionality, making it easy to navigate. Other standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. 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 Toyota 4Runner came with a full array of airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera. However, it lacked modern driver-assistance features that were standard on many other vehicles. The 4Runner received 4 out of 5 stars overall in NHTSA crash tests but only 3 out of 5 in the rollover test.

The 2020 Honda Passport was designed with safety in mind, achieving good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA. It was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technology, including collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.