2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's familiar design and reliable components. Its exterior resembled a smaller Honda Pilot but with a more rugged and athletic appearance, fitting neatly between the Pilot and CR-V in terms of size, capability, and price. The Passport's design included a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, giving it a robust look. The interior was sophisticated, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, with the Elite trim offering heated and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained a timeless design that had aged well over a decade. It balanced rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring flared fenders and large wheels. The Grand Cherokee's lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the luxurious Overland and Summit trims, with performance models like the SRT and Trackhawk. The Summit trim, tested with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, boasted premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum interior accents. However, the interior showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

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. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Passport's fuel economy was modest, achieving 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined for FWD models, and slightly lower for AWD models. The Passport excelled in various driving conditions, including high elevations and off-road trails, thanks to its torque-vectoring AWD system and drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine generating 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine offered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still achieved only 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension provided excellent off-road capability and a smooth ride on various terrains.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical, offering ample space and comfort for four adults. It featured height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and spacious seats similar to those in the Honda Pilot and Odyssey. The Passport provided 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior included tri-zone automatic climate control, second-row sunshades, and a power liftgate. Small-item storage was plentiful, with a large center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and an eight-way power-adjustable front seats. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with additional storage bins around the spare tire. Folding the second-row seats was easy, and the maximum cargo space was 68.3 cubic feet. The power liftgate and practical grocery bag hooks added convenience.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 5.0-inch display monitor in the base Sport model, while higher trims received 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, 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.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system was impressive, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with fast response times and pleasing graphics. SiriusXM services included satellite radio, Traffic Plus, Travel Link, and Guardian, providing remote access to the vehicle. The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system remained competitive.

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, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional safety features like dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models but performed poorly in IIHS small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated poorly unless upgraded. The Summit trim included the ProTech II Package, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.