2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 Honda Passport followed Honda's familiar design language, offering a blend of ruggedness and sophistication. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Pilot and a beefed-up CR-V, featured a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The Passport's elevated ground clearance and athletic styling cues gave it a more adventurous look compared to its siblings. Inside, the Passport Elite trim boasted perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a spacious, well-appointed cabin with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Odyssey retained a decade-old styling theme with minor updates for a modern touch. The new grille, front bumper, and standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation refreshed its look. The Odyssey Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome 19-inch wheels. The interior improvements included better seating materials and tri-color floor mats, enhancing its upscale feel. The Odyssey's design aimed to balance practicality with a touch of luxury, making it a strong contender in the minivan segment.

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. This setup provided sufficient power for various driving situations, though its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. AWD models performed slightly worse. The Passport excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to 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 Honda Odyssey shared the same 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower through a ten-speed automatic transmission. The Odyssey's drivetrain included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, along with paddle shifters. Its fuel economy was slightly better, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined. However, the lack of AWD put it at a disadvantage in snowy regions. The Odyssey's new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, though the brakes struggled under heavy use during testing. Despite this, the Odyssey remained enjoyable to drive, with well-balanced ride and handling qualities.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized practicality with its right-sized dimensions, offering ample visibility and spacious seating for four adults. The interior featured height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and available tri-zone automatic climate control. The Passport excelled in cargo space, providing 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. Small-item storage was also impressive, with a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered excellent storage space and logical controls, though it lacked a tuning knob for the stereo. The Elite trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 144.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, removing the second-row seats for maximum cargo volume was cumbersome.

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 practical and easy to navigate, though the dashboard design felt outdated. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, with higher trims offering a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's EX trim and above included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring and Elite trims added navigation, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Elite trim also featured an 11-speaker premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. Despite the extensive technology, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen and built-in streaming apps, though it wasn't a touchscreen, disappointing some users.

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, including 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 and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with standard Honda Sensing on all trims, thanks to a new radar unit. The system added low-speed follow capability, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey's adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning system worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey maintained its top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, aside from a four-star score for rollover resistance.