2020 Honda Passport vs 2020 GMC Acadia

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins. The 2020 Acadia came in various trims, including the luxurious Denali, which featured all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and a Technology Package, bringing the price to $52,385. Design changes were most noticeable in the front, with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille. Inside, the cabin saw minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. Despite these touches, the interior still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with nothing particularly premium aside from the leather upholstery and wood trim.

The 2020 Honda Passport followed Honda's traditional design playbook, offering a practical and reliable choice. The exterior resembled a pared-down Honda Pilot but with a more rugged and athletic look. The Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim was fully loaded with features like a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and chrome exhaust finishers. The Passport had more ground clearance than the Pilot, making it more capable off-road. Inside, the cabin was sophisticated with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and other premium amenities. The design emphasized spaciousness and practicality, appealing to frequent Honda buyers.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants came with a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had a dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine and nine-speed automatic provided smooth and refined power, with a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, offering a comfortable but forgettable driving experience.

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 had mediocre fuel economy. FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while AWD models performed slightly worse. The Passport excelled in different terrains, from the flats of Fresno to the peaks of Yosemite, maintaining performance even at high elevations. The Elite trim came with torque-vectoring AWD, enhancing stability on winding roads. The Passport also featured Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes, making it more capable off-road. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim and configuration. The Denali trim offered 6-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs, which could be swapped for a bench seat at no extra cost. The front seats were wide, supportive, and perfect for long road trips, with heating and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a power outlet for rear passengers. The third-row seat was roomier than expected but had limited space between the seat and the back of the SUV. Cargo volume was 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 79 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical and right-sized, offering good visibility and spacious seats for four adults. It did not have a third-row option. The front seats were comfortable, with height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections in the second row. The Passport's seats were similar to those in the Pilot and Odyssey, providing ample knee- and legroom. The cabin featured cloth upholstery as standard, with perforated leather available. The tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades were beneficial for rear passengers. The Passport had 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most under-floor storage in its class, and a high load floor. A power liftgate was standard. The Passport excelled in small-item storage, with a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included essential infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution, simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. The infotainment system was easy to use, and new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror were added for 2020.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model had a 5.0-inch display, 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 hotspot. The dashboard design was taken from the Pilot, looking slightly outdated but functional.

The 2020 GMC Acadia needed to improve its safety features. Standard equipment included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and GMC Connected Services with a short free trial period. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. Forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were available on SLT or AT4 trims as part of a Driver Alert Package, which also included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian braking, parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a head-up display. Enhanced automatic emergency braking was exclusive to the Denali. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS provided incomplete data, with high marks in available tests.

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 found in competitors, the Passport's safety features were well-suited for most drivers.