2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential example of Honda's design philosophy, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic that resonated with loyal Honda customers. Its exterior design was a blend of ruggedness and athleticism, positioned between the Honda Pilot and CR-V in terms of size and capability. The Passport's Elite trim came well-equipped 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 emphasized its off-road potential.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was a testament to Honda's focus on utility and comfort. The interior, largely similar to the Honda Pilot, featured a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, providing a sophisticated yet practical environment. The Elite trim boasted luxurious amenities such as perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The design choices, while not groundbreaking, offered a sense of familiarity and reliability that appealed to Honda enthusiasts.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover, on the other hand, represented a significant shift from its utilitarian roots to a symbol of luxury and opulence. With a starting price of $92,000, the Range Rover offered a wide range of powertrains and personalization options, allowing for a highly customized experience. The HSE Westminster special edition, priced at $106,715, featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Despite its age, the Range Rover's design remained timeless, with hallmark features like blacked-out windshield pillars and clean styling lines.

Inside, the Range Rover exuded luxury with its Ivory-color interior and mid-century modern ambiance. The cabin was equipped with Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Duo dual-screen infotainment system, which, while not as advanced as newer systems, offered a high level of customization. The Range Rover's interior was a blend of comfort and sophistication, with features like quad-zone climate control and heated and ventilated seats. However, the second-row seating was less comfortable, lacking thigh support and adjustability.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while AWD models fared slightly worse. The Passport's torque-vectoring AWD system enhanced its stability on the road, and its off-road capabilities were demonstrated during trail driving in Texas.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain options, including a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine in the HSE Westminster edition. This engine delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Range Rover's 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response 2 traction control, ensured its legendary off-road capabilities. Despite its weight and tall center of gravity, the Range Rover provided a smooth and quiet ride, with an adaptive air suspension filtering road harshness. However, its steering response was relatively slow, and side-to-side wallow was noticeable on uneven roads.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV, offering ample interior space and comfort. Its size allowed for good visibility and spacious seating for four adults, with height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections for child safety seats. The Passport's cargo area was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured a mix of cloth and perforated leather upholstery, with tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades enhancing passenger comfort.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier entry and exit. The front seats were decadently comfortable, wrapped in quality leather upholstery, but the second-row seating was less accommodating, lacking thigh support and adjustability. The Range Rover's cargo space was limited, with 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a maximum of 59.8 cubic feet. The SUV's storage solutions were also limited, with dual glove compartments and a small refrigerated center-console bin.

The 2020 Honda Passport offered a practical infotainment system, with the EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims featuring an 8.0-inch Display Audio touch screen 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, and a seven-speaker audio system, while higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover's technology was centered around the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with three digital displays offering numerous features and functions. While the system was not entirely intuitive, it was manageable for those familiar with smartphones and tablets. The Range Rover also featured a head-up display, touch-sensing steering wheel controls, and voice control commands. The Activity Key wristband and iGuide smartphone app added convenience and functionality.

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, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional packages added advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, enhancing safety and convenience.