2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 GMC Yukon

Everything about the 2020 Honda Passport was straight out of the Honda playbook. While expected, its parts and aesthetics made a compelling case for themselves, drawing in loyal Honda fans who preferred to stick with the familiar brand rather than explore alternatives.

Externally, the Passport looked like a pared-down Honda Pilot, but with elements that also positioned it as a pumped-up CR-V, fitting snugly between the two in terms of size, capability, looks, and price. Its rugged and athletic design immediately suggested a more adventurous spirit than its sibling models, the Pilot and the CR-V.

The five-passenger Passport was available in Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims, with the Elite trim boasting an impressive array of features. Standard in all trims were scratch-resistant matte black grilles and bumpers, 20-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in all-weather tires, black-rimmed LED headlights, chrome exhaust finishers, and gloss-black trim.

The Passport had more ground clearance than the Pilot—0.5 inches more on front-wheel-drive (FWD) models and 1.1 inches more on all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions, enhancing its off-road capability.

Inside, the Passport’s cabin was more sophisticated than rugged, with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. It closely resembled the interior of the Honda Pilot, which ensured a well-appointed and comfortable environment. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and additional luxuries like heated rear outboard seats, an illuminated beverage holder, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory, and a moonroof.

The interior design emphasized spaciousness and width, thanks in part to the compact button-heavy shifting mechanism. Although the materials and layout were not unique, they were attractive and functional, catering to frequent Honda buyers who appreciated the consistency in design.

In contrast, the 2021 GMC Yukon transformed itself significantly, balancing ruggedness with a premium feel. In the General Motors spectrum, GMC positioned itself as "premium grade," sitting between Chevrolet and Cadillac, with a more rugged yet refined persona compared to Buick.

The redesigned 2021 GMC Yukon was available in SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali trims, priced from $50,700. The new Yukon AT4 catered to off-road enthusiasts with its improved approach angle, skid plates, and all-terrain tires. However, the Denali trim, accounting for nearly half of Yukon sales historically, epitomized GMC’s upscale aspirations.

The Yukon Denali stood out with its exclusive dashboard design, intricate grillework, chrome detailing, and sleek rear styling. Priced at $83,720 with the Denali Ultimate package, it boasted features like real wood trim, leather-wrapped panels, unique stitching, and a panoramic sunroof, creating an upscale cabin experience.

Despite the fact that a Chevy could match many cosmetic upgrades for a lower price, the Denali differentiated itself with a more sophisticated and exclusive interior, underscoring GMC's commitment to premium quality.

Honda equipped every 2020 Passport model with its dependable 3.5-liter V6 engine, paired with a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain delivered 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, providing sufficient performance for various driving conditions. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. AWD models were slightly less efficient at 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

The Passport's 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 400 miles of range when these figures were met. Tested across varying terrains, including the elevations of Yosemite National Park, the Passport maintained solid performance. The standard FWD could be upgraded to AWD, and the Elite trim came with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, enhancing stability on winding roads. The AWD system could send 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent of that torque to either rear wheel, boosting confidence in adverse conditions.

The Passport also offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes for enhanced off-road capability, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 GMC Yukon offered three engine options: a standard 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 for all but the Denali, which had an exclusive 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six was also slated to become available, except for the AT4 due to packaging constraints.

The Denali’s 6.2-liter V8, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, provided robust acceleration and the classic V8 sound admired by enthusiasts. However, it lagged in fuel economy, averaging 14.4 mpg on a testing loop and 16.2 mpg in a shorter second loop. Official EPA ratings for the 6.2-liter V8 with 4WD were 14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined, slightly below its predecessor’s ratings.

Despite its thirst for fuel, the new Yukon boasted an independent rear suspension and available Four-Corner Air Ride suspension with Magnetic Ride Control, significantly improving ride quality and handling. Larger 22-inch wheels and tires, however, could make the ride less comfortable over rough pavements.

The Yukon Denali’s Active Response 4WD system, complete with a two-speed transfer case, Traction Select driving modes, and an electronic limited-slip differential, enhanced its traction and cornering performance. Although off-roading and towing weren’t assessed in this review, GMC claimed that the Denali could tow up to 8,400 pounds with 2WD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD.

If practicality defined the Honda Passport, it was evident in its design and size. Similar to a right-sized rather than fun-sized vehicle, the Passport offered excellent visibility and spacious seating for four adults. However, it lacked a third-row option. The front-row occupants enjoyed height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections for child seats in the second row.

The Passport's seating, akin to those in the Pilot and Odyssey minivan, provided ample comfort and space, even for taller passengers. Cloth upholstery was standard, with perforated leather available. The tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades added to the backseat occupants’ comfort.

Cargo-wise, the Passport excelled with 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. This generous cargo area allowed the SUV to accommodate a family's luggage for a week-long trip. It featured a standard high load floor, fitting the model’s elevated stance, and a power liftgate for easy access.

The interior provided excellent small-item storage, with a spacious center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. Hard plastic surfaces on the doors and floorboards were easy to clean, while piano black trim pieces required occasional dusting.

In comparison, the 2021 GMC Yukon enjoyed significant improvements in passenger and cargo space, thanks to its new independent rear suspension. This change addressed previous complaints regarding the SUV’s space limitations.

Front-seat room remained similar, with Denali trims featuring leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front seats could feel hard over long drives, and the lack of massage functionality was a drawback. Additionally, the door panels’ hard material could become uncomfortable for elbows during extended journeys.

Second-row seats now slid and folded flat, enhancing comfort and cargo room. The Denali’s standard heated seats and power release function for easy third-row access further improved convenience.

The third-row seat in the new Yukon was significantly more comfortable, providing adequate thigh support for adults. This brought it on par with rivals like the Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia.

Regarding cargo volume, the Yukon Denali offered 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 72.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet with all seats down. The larger Denali XL provided even more space with 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a whopping 144.7 cubic feet maximum capacity. These figures were comparable to those of minivans.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 5.0-inch display monitor in the base Sport model, while the higher EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims featured an 8.0-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. This system included a manual power button and volume knob and offered pinch, swipe, and tap functionality, making it easy to navigate.

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. Despite its practicality, the Passport’s center stack design felt somewhat outdated.

The 2021 GMC Yukon excelled in infotainment, especially in the Denali trim with the Ultimate Package. Standard across all trims was a 10.2-inch touchscreen system offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and an optional 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Over-the-air updates ensured the technology stayed current.

Upgrades included wireless device charging, a navigation system, a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series premium audio system, and a Rear Seat Media system with dual 12.6-inch touchscreens. However, the system’s DVD-less design required some familiarity for streaming content.

Our test with the Yukon’s Rear Seat Media system revealed some connectivity challenges but ultimately entertained passengers. Despite this modern setup, the Bose audio system fell short of expectations, sounding flat even with enhancements.

Other advanced tech features included a 15-inch color head-up display, a rear camera mirror, and multiple surround-view camera angles, complementing standard front and rear parking assist sensors and a high-definition reversing camera.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, evident from its accolades and comprehensive safety suite. It achieved good scores from both the IIHS, receiving the Top Safety Pick designation, and the NHTSA. Standard Honda Sensing technology included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. A rearview camera with dynamic gridlines, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection were available in higher trims.

The 2021 GMC Yukon enhanced its safety credentials with numerous advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward collision warning, daytime pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking (below 50 mph), and automatic high-beam headlights. Teen Driver parental control, rear-seat reminder, and OnStar services were also included.

Starting from the SLT trim, the Yukon added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Denali trim further offered rear pedestrian alert, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. During testing, the adaptive cruise and lane assistance systems operated smoothly, allowing for a pleasant driving experience.

While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the substantial curb weight of the Yukon instilled confidence in its safety in most collision scenarios.