2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's familiar design and functionality. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's four trim levels—Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite—offered various features, with the Elite trim boasting a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and more ground clearance than the Pilot, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was a blend of sophistication and practicality, mirroring the Honda Pilot's interior. The Elite trim featured luxurious touches like perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, with a layout that would appeal to loyal Honda customers. Lower trims offered packages like Urban and Adventure, adding features such as crossbars and running boards.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, despite its high MSRP of $42,083, maintained a modest appearance. It lacked the larger wheels of the non-hybrid RAV4 Limited and didn't offer an Adventure trim due to its electronic AWD system. However, the RAV4 Hybrid's exterior still exuded a tough, "cute-ute" vibe, with the potential for a more upscale look akin to the Toyota Venza.

Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid was stylish and practical, though quality varied with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastics. The test vehicle had a rattle from the license plate, but overall, the interior was functional and comfortable. The dashboard layout was intuitive, with oversized climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment systems. Storage was ample, with useful shelves and a roomy cargo area, though the premium sound system's subwoofer and all-weather mat could be cumbersome.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. While the engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, and AWD models slightly lower. The Passport excelled in performance, handling the elevation changes of Yosemite National Park and off-road trails in Texas with ease. Its torque-vectoring AWD system and drive modes like Snow, Sand, and Mud enhanced its off-road capabilities, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, generating 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain provided lively acceleration, though the engine sounded unpleasant when revved. The RAV4 Hybrid achieved an impressive 40 mpg combined, with a smooth CVT and regenerative braking system. Its MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, along with Active Cornering Assist, offered favorable driving dynamics, though the all-season tires lacked grip. The RAV4 Hybrid's 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Trail mode allowed for light off-roading.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical, with a right-sized design offering good visibility and spacious seating for four adults. It featured height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections, and comfortable seats similar to the Honda Pilot and Odyssey. The Passport's cargo area was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and ample under-floor storage. The interior included tri-zone automatic climate control, second-row sunshades, and plenty of small-item storage.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and decent rear-seat legroom. The dashboard layout was intuitive, with oversized climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment systems. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and a roomy 37.5 cubic-foot cargo area. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo space to 69.8 cubic feet.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display, 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, with additional features like Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, all supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The top-shelf system included an 11-speaker JBL audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and stereo knobs. Toyota also offered advanced camera-based technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

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, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights. The Hybrid Limited trim offered rear automatic braking.