2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's familiar design language and reliable components. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or an enhanced CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's higher ground clearance compared to the Pilot, along with its scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, contributed to its off-road-ready appearance.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was more sophisticated than rugged, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim level boasted perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The interior design emphasized spaciousness, with a button-heavy shifting mechanism that saved space. Lower trims offered various packages to enhance the vehicle's features, while Honda Sensing safety technology and navigation were available on the Touring grade for an extra fee.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, resulting in a more muscular exterior with new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille. The rear featured an all-LED taillamp spanning the width of the model, maintaining a touch of the original design's sophistication. Chrysler introduced six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents.

Inside, the Pacifica's cabin was designed with family life in mind, offering a balance between practicality and luxury. The Pinnacle trim level, in particular, catered to premium and luxury customers with quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard housed a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and the interior featured Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents and real metal surrounds. The Pacifica's doors had a well-weighted feel, and the minivan's sound deadening technology kept road and engine noise at bay.

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 in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, while all-wheel-drive models performed slightly worse.

The Passport's performance remained consistent even at high elevations, and its torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system provided a planted feel on winding roads. The SUV offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes, making it more capable off-road than expected. The Passport could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, surpassing its rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid powertrain with a V6 engine, dual-motor electrically variable transmission, and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered all-wheel drive or the hybrid powertrain.

The new AWD system activated on-demand based on various conditions, improving fuel efficiency by deactivating when not needed. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with slightly lower numbers for AWD models.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV with ample space for four adults and good visibility. It featured height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and comfortable seats similar to those in the Pilot and Odyssey. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most under-floor storage in its class, and a power liftgate. The interior had plenty of small-item storage, and the heating and cooling functionalities were easy to adjust.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The minivan featured power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, Stow 'n Go seats, and a spacious cargo area. The Pinnacle trim level provided best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters. The Pacifica's seats had sufficient legroom, and the under-console storage for second-row passengers was a practical addition.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display monitor, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The system was practical and easy to navigate, with additional features like Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and quick responsiveness. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Pinnacle trim level featured FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with advanced functionality. The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with optional upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine system or 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, achieving good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technology, including forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim level. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.