2021 Lexus RX vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport showcased a design that was distinctly from Honda's established lineage. Its similarities to the Honda Pilot were unmistakable, yet it stood out with a more rugged and athletic aesthetic. Positioned between the Pilot and the CR-V in terms of size, capability, looks, and price, the Passport catered to those looking for a blend of durability and sophistication.

The Passport's exterior design borrowed heavily from its sibling models. It presented a robust appearance with its matte black grille and bumper, 20-inch black alloy wheels, black-rimmed LED headlights, and glossy black trim. The chrome exhaust finishers added a touch of elegance to its otherwise rugged look. The increased ground clearance over the Pilot, by either 0.5 inches for FWD or 1.1 inches for AWD models, enhanced its off-road capability.

The interior of the Passport was equally impressive, balancing rugged utility with a sophisticated cabin layout. The materials ranged from hard-wearing to soft-touch, keeping comfort in mind. The Elite trim, in particular, came equipped with extensive features like perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, and an illuminated beverage holder. The layout created a spacious feel, further emphasized by a minimalistic center console, which housed a button-heavy shifting mechanism. While the interior design was not revolutionary, it was a perfect example of Honda's philosophy of not fixing what isn't broken.

The Passport also came with a variety of customization options, with packages like Urban and Adventure adding functional features such as crossbars, underbody spoilers, and running boards. While higher trims like the Touring offered Honda Sensing safety technology and navigation.

The 2021 Lexus RX epitomized modern design aesthetics with eye-catching elements. Its prominent grille, angular headlamps, and sculpted body gave it a striking presence. The floating roof design added a contemporary touch, while the interior indulged occupants in luxury with sumptuous seating and perforated leather upholstery. However, the center console design appeared somewhat dated compared to the rest of the premium cabin.

Lexus offered the RX in five variants: RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid, catering to a range of needs from performance-focused driving to extended family seating. Changes made in the 2020 model year, such as elongating headlights and refining the front end, carried over, addressing past criticisms of its exterior design.

Standard features on the RX were impressive, with 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, rear privacy glass, and side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals. The RX F Sport package elevated the appearance with unique 20-inch wheels, F Sport badging, and a sportier interior with a perforated leather-wrapped shift knob and scored aluminum trim.

Inside, even the base RX 350 offered luxury with carpeted floor mats, chrome inside door handles, and NuLuxe-trimmed seats among other amenities. Higher trims added semi-aniline leather upholstery, sport seats, aluminum pedals, heated and ventilated seats, and more. The third row in RXL models, however, proved to be a tight squeeze for passengers.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a dependable 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine, paired with a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission, provided ample power for various driving conditions. Fuel economy, however, was not its strong suit, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined for FWD models, and slightly lower figures for AWD models.

Despite these numbers, the Passport excelled in real-world conditions. During tests in Fresno and Yosemite National Park, it maintained performance with no degradation even at high elevations. The torque-vectoring AWD system in the Elite trim was particularly noteworthy, enhancing stability, especially on winding routes. This system could allocate up to 70% of engine torque to the rear axle and 100% to either rear wheel, making it highly reliable in inclement weather.

Off-road, the Passport's capabilities shone through. Its snow, sand, and mud drive modes, alongside the higher ground clearance, allowed it to traverse muddy trails effortlessly. The model could also tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with a towing package, putting it ahead of competitors like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Lexus RX lineup primarily featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, offered a smooth but sometimes hesitant gear-changing experience. Lexus recommended premium 91 octane fuel for optimal performance.

Fuel economy for the RX 350 FWD was commendable, rated at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. AWD and RXL variants had slightly reduced efficiency. Hybrid models, combining the V6 engine with three electric motors, produced 308 horsepower and demonstrated excellent fuel efficiency, achieving up to 31 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The RX’s handling benefitted from suspension and tuning adjustments, offering a more dynamic driving experience. AWD variants felt planted in corners with minor body roll at high speeds. The F Sport Handling package further enhanced the driving dynamics with adaptive variable suspension and sportier interior features.

Despite these improvements, the RX remained a comfortable cruiser rather than a sports SUV. It was limited to a top speed of 124 mph and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 7.7 to 7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain. Hybrid models performed similarly but had a lower top speed of 112 mph.

The Honda Passport was a practical choice, prioritizing functionality over flashy design. Its size was ideal for providing a spacious interior without feeling overly large. It seated four adults comfortably, with no option for a third row, maintaining ample space for passengers, especially in the front seats.

The Passport's seats, reminiscent of those in the Pilot and Odyssey, offered generous knee- and legroom. Cloth upholstery was standard, with perforated leather available. Key features for passenger comfort included tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades, making it one of the few two-row SUVs with such amenities.

Cargo capacity was a standout feature. The Passport boasted 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to the most under-floor storage in its class. This spaciousness made it easy to store luggage for a week-long family trip. The high load floor, although expected given its design, was a minor inconvenience.

Heating and cooling functionalities were user-friendly, and the heated and ventilated seats were effective and easy to adjust. The Passport also excelled in small-item storage, featuring a large center console and secondary shelf space inside the front doors. Hard plastic surfaces were easy to clean, though piano black trim pieces required frequent dusting.

The Lexus RX offered functionality alongside its luxurious design. The two-row models provided ample space for five passengers, with comfortable front and second-row seats. The three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid, however, had cramped third-row seating, making them unsuitable for long-term passenger use.

Cargo capacity in the RX was less impressive compared to traditional SUVs. The two-row RX provided 18.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row, which increased to 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. In three-row models, space was further compromised, offering only 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second, and 58.5 cubic feet with both rows folded.

These figures trailed behind competitors like the Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V. Nevertheless, the RX came standard with a power liftgate, and a hands-free liftgate was available, adding a layer of convenience for loading and unloading cargo.

The Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display monitor, while higher trims like EX-L, Touring, and Elite featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system. This larger screen supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration via a wired connection. It was user-friendly with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality and retained a manual power button and volume knob.

Standard features across the range included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered additional features such as a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The Passport's infotainment system, while practical, was derived from the older Honda Pilot and looked somewhat dated. However, its functionality and reliability were beyond question.

The Lexus RX was well-equipped with technology. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker sound system.

Available upgrades enhanced the RX's technology offering with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, a moonroof, a panoramic roof, wireless charging, navigation, a 12-speaker audio system, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system.

The larger screen in the RX came with a Remote Touch controller, designed to allow driver control without touching the screen. While improved over the years, it still lagged behind competitors in refinement and occupied valuable center console space.

Though the infotainment system was comprehensive, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, signaling its need for a generational update.

The 2020 Honda Passport emphasized safety, receiving high marks from IIHS and NHTSA, and earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. Standard across all trims was the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. A standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view enhanced safety during parking.

Higher trims offered additional features such as dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection. While not as advanced as some competitors, the Passport's safety technology was sufficiently robust for most users.

The 2021 Lexus RX also prioritized safety, achieving the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation with Good marks across crashworthiness tests for the RX and RXL models. However, the hybrid and longer-body variants lacked IIHS testing.

NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and a perfect side-impact score. The RX featured a comprehensive safety suite, Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, standard on all models. This suite included pre-collision systems, emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist.

The RX also provided ten airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. However, the absence of cutting-edge autonomous features found in newer models from other brands underscored its aging design.