2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's familiar design language. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Elite trim, in particular, came loaded with features like a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, giving it a robust appearance. The interior was more sophisticated than rugged, with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, heated and ventilated front seats, and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel. The design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, making it a practical choice for frequent Honda buyers.

In contrast, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 took a different design approach, favoring smooth, sleek lines over aggressive creases and angles. The base Sport model featured automatic LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims like the Touring and Grand Touring added leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control, and advanced lighting systems. The top-tier Signature trim, with its Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats and genuine wood trim, exuded a premium feel. Despite its stylish design, the CX-5's interior space was somewhat limited, particularly in the rear seats and cargo area, which were below average for the segment.

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. This setup provided sufficient power for various driving situations, though its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. AWD models performed slightly worse. The Passport excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its higher ground clearance and torque-vectoring AWD system, which could send 70% of engine torque to the rear axle and 100% to either rear wheel. It also had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, outclassing rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The base engine delivered decent fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The turbocharged engine, while more powerful, had slightly lower fuel efficiency. The CX-5's sporty driving dynamics were a highlight, though its stiff suspension could be a drawback for some. AWD was standard on higher trims, enhancing its handling and stability.

The 2020 Honda Passport was all about practicality. Its right-sized dimensions provided ample interior space, with comfortable seating for four adults and generous cargo capacity. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most in its class, and featured under-floor storage. The interior was well-appointed, with available tri-zone climate control, sunshades, and heated and ventilated seats. Small-item storage was also a strong point, with a spacious center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5, while stylish, had less interior space compared to its rivals. Headroom was adequate, but legroom in the rear seats was limited. The cargo area offered 30.9 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 59.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was below average for the segment. The CX-5's interior featured straightforward climate controls and a larger shifter that took up more space than necessary. The infotainment system controls were positioned in a way that wasn't intuitive for shorter drivers, and the overall cargo space was less than competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 5.0-inch display monitor on the base Sport model, 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 a bit outdated. Other 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 Mazda CX-5 boasted a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen across all trims. While the screen size was impressive, the operating system was less user-friendly, with a knob in the center console for control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the lack of quick-access knobs for tuning the stereo or scrolling through favorites was a drawback. The infotainment system's positioning also made it difficult for shorter drivers to reach.

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, which included forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 also had a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. Optional features included a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-5 earned high safety ratings, being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and receiving a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Mazda's warranty coverage included a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.