2021 BMW X3 vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's reliable and practical design ethos. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's design included a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, giving it a robust appearance. The additional ground clearance compared to the Pilot further enhanced its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was more sophisticated than rugged, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim boasted perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The interior design emphasized spaciousness, with ample room for passengers and a practical layout that appealed to loyal Honda buyers. Lower trims offered various packages to enhance the vehicle's features, including safety technology and navigation.

The 2021 BMW X3, introduced in its third generation in 2018, received updates in 2020, including a plug-in hybrid model and M performance variants. The redesign refined the X3's formula, giving it the presence of larger, more expensive BMW models. The exterior resembled a downsized BMW X5, while the interior featured the brand's signature cold, mechanical styling. Although not as visually appealing as some rivals, the X3's dashboard was highly functional.

The X3 came in several trims, including the sDrive30i, xDrive30i, M40i, and the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid. Standard features included 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a 10.2-inch infotainment system. Optional features added genuine leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free power liftgate. The M40i trim offered additional performance-oriented features, such as 19-inch alloy wheels and an M Sport suspension.

The 2020 Honda Passport was equipped with 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. Front-wheel-drive models achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while all-wheel-drive models performed slightly worse.

The Passport excelled in real-world performance, handling the flats of Fresno and the peaks of Yosemite National Park with ease. The torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system in the Elite trim provided a planted feel on winding roads and off-road trails. The Passport's Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes enhanced its off-road capabilities, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the towing package.

The 2021 BMW X3 offered a range of powertrains. The sDrive30i and xDrive30i featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The xDrive30e plug-in hybrid produced 288 horsepower and had a 17-mile electric-only range. The M40i trim boasted a 382-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six engine, delivering robust acceleration and responsive cornering. For those seeking even more performance, the X3 M offered 473 horsepower.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV with ample space for passengers and cargo. Its size provided good visibility and comfortable seating for four adults. 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 Passport's small-item storage was also impressive, with a large center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 BMW X3 offered up to 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.7 cubic feet with the seats in use. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The X3's interior was spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom for all passengers. The driver and front passenger benefited from real buttons and dials, complementing the main touchscreen and reducing the learning curve for new users.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 5.0-inch display monitor in the base Sport model, while higher trims received an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate, with additional features such as Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, wireless phone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 BMW X3 came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running the iDrive infotainment system, which was user-friendly and offered both touch and dial operation. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, with Android Auto available as an option. Other optional features included wireless device charging, a fully digital instrument panel, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo system. Gesture control was also available, allowing basic controls through hand movements.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features such as dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 BMW X3 came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, headlights that bend with the road, and a head-up display.