2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 Volvo XC40

The 2019 Volvo XC40 stood out with its distinctive styling, borrowing elements from its larger sibling, the XC90, resulting in an upright appearance. This design contrasted with other subcompact SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and BMW X2, which had more low-slung designs. The XC40’s SUV-based design provided an upright driving position and ample head- and legroom. The Momentum trim, although the base model, came well-equipped with features like 18-inch wheels, LED signature headlights, and a 9-inch Sensus touchscreen infotainment display. The R-Design trim added a unique front grille and contrasting black roof, while the Inscription trim featured a panoramic sunroof and driftwood door inlays.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Passport had a rugged and athletic exterior, resembling a pared-down Honda Pilot or a pumped-up CR-V. The Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim, as tested, 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 suitable for off-road adventures. Inside, the Passport Elite featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The interior was spacious and practical, with a focus on utility and comfort.

The 2019 Volvo XC40 was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The unique shifter design required some getting used to, but once on the road, the XC40 offered brisk acceleration, well-weighted steering, and responsive handling. The suspension balanced comfort and responsiveness, with minimal body roll in turns. The XC40 featured multiple drive modes, including Comfort, Eco, Dynamic, Off-Road, and Individual. Fuel economy was estimated at 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined, though observed fuel economy was 21 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for front-wheel-drive models was 20 mpg city, 25 highway, and 22 combined, while all-wheel-drive models achieved 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The Passport performed well in various driving conditions, including high elevations and off-road trails. The Elite trim came with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, enhancing stability and control. The Passport also offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes for off-road capability and could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package.

The 2019 Volvo XC40 made excellent use of its space, providing ample front-seat head- and legroom. The center console featured a removable trash bin and a wireless charging pad. The backseat offered surprising legroom and smart storage trays. The hands-free power liftgate worked efficiently, revealing a decent-size load floor with additional storage below. The rear seats could be easily dropped with spring-loaded toggles, providing 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical and spacious, with ample room for four adults. The seats were comfortable, similar to those in the Honda Pilot and Odyssey. The Passport offered height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and available tri-zone automatic climate control. The cargo area provided 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, with the most under-floor storage in its class. The center console and secondary shelf space offered plenty of small-item storage. The power liftgate and easy-to-clean surfaces added to the Passport’s practicality.

The 2019 Volvo XC40 featured a large portrait-oriented touchscreen in the center of the dash, housing almost all vehicle controls. The Sensus system was user-friendly, with a home screen and large font bands for easy navigation. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the available Multimedia Package added a navigation system and a 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. However, some functions, like heated seats, required multiple steps to access.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 5.0-inch display monitor in the base Sport model, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was responsive and easy to navigate, with standard features like 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 dashboard design, borrowed from the Pilot, looked a bit outdated but remained functional.

The 2019 Volvo XC40 came standard with a full array of airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, a whiplash protection system, road-sign information updates, and a rear-collision warning system. The City Safe automatic braking system could detect cars, pedestrians, and large animals. The optional Vision Package included blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alert, and Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. The Advanced Package added a 360-degree camera and automatically bending headlights. However, the XC40 had poor rearward visibility due to its large C-pillars and a confusing shifter design.

The 2020 Honda Passport achieved good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. A rearview camera with a birds-eye view was also standard. 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 features found in competitors, the Passport’s safety technology was well-suited for most drivers.