2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Chevrolet Trax

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 an enhanced CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's design, with its scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and elevated ground clearance, made it appear ready for off-road adventures. Inside, the Passport Elite trim offered a sophisticated cabin with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, heated and ventilated front seats, and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel. The interior design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, making it a familiar yet appealing choice for Honda enthusiasts.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax retained the design updates from its 2017 refresh, featuring a compact and practical exterior. The LS trim came with 16-inch painted aluminum wheels and a basic yet functional interior with cloth upholstery and manually adjustable front seats. The LT trim added more convenience features like heated side mirrors, remote start, and upgraded seats. Despite its compact size, the Trax offered respectable headroom and legroom, though the rear seats lacked comfort for long journeys. The cargo space was mid-pack for its segment, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 48.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport provided smooth acceleration and reliable performance in various driving conditions. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and AWD models slightly lower. The Passport excelled in off-road capabilities, with its torque-vectoring AWD system and drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, was adequate for city driving but struggled at highway speeds and during passing maneuvers. The Trax's ride was firm, often harsh over potholes, but its tight turning radius made it maneuverable in urban settings. While rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more engaging drives, the Trax was a sensible choice for city dwellers.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV with ample space for passengers and cargo. Its size, slightly larger than the CR-V, provided good visibility and comfortable seating for four adults. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured height-adjustable seatbelts, tri-zone automatic climate control, and second-row sunshades. Small-item storage was plentiful, with a large center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax provided decent headroom and legroom in both rows, though the rear seats were less comfortable for long trips. The front seats were supportive, and the low cupholder placement allowed for large water bottles. The Trax offered 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The front passenger seat could also fold flat for larger items. However, the Trax lacked options for a power liftgate or hands-free liftgate.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with 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 system was user-friendly, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had easy-to-follow menus and vivid graphics, complemented by hard buttons and dials. Standard features included two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available Wi-Fi hotspot.

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

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax received a five-star rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Standard safety features included an array of airbags and a backup camera. The LT Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. However, the Trax lacked advanced safety features like forward-collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, which were standard or available on many rivals.