2020 Acura RDX vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its striking design from the previous year, featuring a bold grille and sleek headlights that made it stand out in its segment. The large Acura logo on the grille, while oversized, complemented the overall design. The RDX's exterior was further enhanced by its dynamic character lines, giving it a sporty appearance. Inside, the RDX impressed with its sharp styling and eye-catching red leather upholstery, creating a striking red-and-black contrast. The cabin was well-equipped with standard features like synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The RDX offered various packages, including the Technology, A-Spec, and Advance, each adding unique features and enhancements.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport shared a strong resemblance with the Honda Pilot, both in exterior and interior design. The Passport's cabin featured a spacious layout with high-quality materials, although it retained Honda's unconventional button shifter design. The Passport offered four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding progressively more features. The base Sport trim included essentials like 20-inch alloy wheels and tri-zone climate control, while the higher trims added luxury touches such as leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and advanced audio systems. The Passport's design focused on practicality and comfort, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering an impressive 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided strong acceleration and a satisfying engine note. The power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, available with front-wheel drive or Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The RDX offered multiple drive modes, including Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. Despite its performance capabilities, the RDX maintained a respectable fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined for the A-Spec model with SH-AWD.

The 2021 Honda Passport came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering smooth power delivery. The Passport featured standard front-wheel drive, with optional all-wheel drive available. The V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the Passport's ride was optimized for comfort and handling. It offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes for various terrains, making it suitable for light off-road adventures. The Passport's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds with AWD, adding to its versatility.

The 2020 Acura RDX offered a spacious cabin with comfortable and supportive front seats, providing ample head- and legroom. The second row also provided good headroom and decent legroom. The RDX featured practical storage solutions, including large door pockets and a pass-through cargo tray with a USB port. The cargo area offered 29.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it competitive in its class.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering up to 100.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage added to its practicality. The Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the cabin featured deep storage bins and in-door pockets for convenience. The rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a point of contention, featuring a vivid widescreen display operated via a touchpad interface. This system, known as the True Touchpad Interface, lacked the intuitive scrolling found in competitors' systems, making it cumbersome to use. Despite this, the RDX came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. The Technology Package added navigation and an upgraded audio system, while the A-Spec featured the impressive ELS Studio 3D sound system.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this was a positive move, the system's dated graphics and confusing menu layout left room for improvement. The inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, but the overall interface felt lacking in user-friendliness.

The 2020 Acura RDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat systems, and a rear-view camera. It also offered advanced driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RDX received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Honda Passport also boasted a range of safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. The Passport earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and received "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with some areas rated as "Acceptable."