2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport followed the classic Honda design ethos, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic that resonated with loyal Honda buyers. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot and a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport Elite trim came fully loaded with features like a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, enhancing its robust appearance. The increased ground clearance compared to the Pilot further positioned the Passport as a capable off-roader.

Inside, the Passport's cabin exuded sophistication with 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 cargo. The button-heavy shifting mechanism minimized space usage, contributing to a clean and functional layout. Lower trims offered various packages to enhance features, while Honda Sensing safety technology and navigation were available on the Touring grade.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson, in contrast, offered a more conventional design compared to its futuristic successor. Its upright layout provided a commanding view of the road, and the interior featured a modern, attractive dash design with seamlessly integrated tech features. The Tucson's trim levels ranged from SE to Ultimate, each adding progressively more features. The base SE trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and manually adjustable front seats.

Higher trims like the Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate added features such as LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Sport trim introduced 19-inch alloy wheels, LED head-and-taillights, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Limited trim offered leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel. The Ultimate trim topped the range with a color trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a panoramic sunroof.

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 powertrain provided sufficient performance for various driving situations, although 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 managed 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The large 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 400 miles of range.

The Passport excelled in diverse driving conditions, from the flats of Fresno to the peaks of Yosemite National Park, maintaining performance even at high elevations. The Elite trim's torque-vectoring all-wheel drive enhanced stability, especially on winding roads. The Passport's off-road capabilities were notable, with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes available on all-wheel-drive models. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the towing package, surpassing rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options: a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque available on higher trims. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at higher speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance around town.

The Tucson delivered a comfortable and refined ride, balancing between softness and athleticism. It could tow up to 1,500 pounds with the base engine and 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine, according to Hyundai.

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 featured height-adjustable seatbelts for front-row occupants and three full LATCH connections in the second row for child safety seats. The seats, similar to those in the Pilot and Odyssey, offered ample knee- and legroom, with cloth upholstery standard and perforated leather available.

The Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. A power liftgate was standard, and the load floor, though high, was manageable. The SUV's small-item storage was impressive, with a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. Harder plastic surfaces were easy to clean, while piano black trim pieces required occasional dusting.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. Higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson's compact layout provided solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats. Rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults on road trips. The Tucson featured plenty of cubbies and compartments, with helpful trays for the driver.

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 larger screen offered pinch, swipe, and tap functionality, and was reasonably responsive. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim featured an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

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

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.