2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Pilot had distinct styling aligned with the current Honda lineup. It boasted thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, contributing to its bold look. The subtle rise in the belt-line around the rear side windows created an illusion of a sleek shape, masking the true size of the Pilot.

Inside, the Pilot offered a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel. While the fuel and engine-temperature gauges were analog, all other critical information was displayed on a digital screen in front of the driver. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, featuring decent refinement, although the presence of hard plastics detracted slightly from its premium feel. Competitors like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Mazda CX-9 offered more upscale interiors.

The Pilot was available in several trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The base LX came with 18-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, push-button start, power locks, and power windows. The EX trim, recommended by CarGurus, added features like remote start, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with tri-zone climate control and heated front seats. The EX-L offered leather upholstery, a power liftgate, and a power moonroof.

The Touring trim included 20-inch alloy wheels, integrated roof rails, and an upgraded stereo system. The Elite trim upped the ante with power-folding side mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated front seats. The new for 2020 Black Edition featured exclusive 20-inch black-painted wheels and black exterior accents.

The 2021 Honda Passport was a shortened version of the Pilot, essentially offering two rows of seats instead of three. The resemblance between the two SUVs was evident both inside and out, earning the Passport the nickname "Pilot Sport."

Inside, the Passport's dashboard mirrored that of the Pilot. However, both models suffered from Honda's awkward button shifter design instead of a conventional lever for the automatic transmission. Despite this, the Passport’s interior was spacious and featured high-quality materials.

The Passport was available in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The base Sport came with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, and tri-zone climate control. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power liftgate, and auto-locking side mirrors.

The Touring trim introduced front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, and a premium audio system. The top-tier Elite offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was sent to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive through a 6-speed automatic transmission for the LX, EX, and EX-L trims. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition received a 9-speed automatic transmission, designed to improve acceleration and fuel economy.

The Pilot used Honda’s unique button shifter, which replaced a conventional shifter setup. While novel, this setup lacked intuitive operation, making it difficult to determine the gear without checking the instrument panel.

The V6 engine offered solid acceleration suitable for everyday driving, although it wasn't the fastest in its class. Designed for comfort, the Pilot provided a smooth ride ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked any significant sporty attributes. Honda's Intelligent Traction Management System allowed drivers to select Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand modes to adjust traction control for different conditions.

The 2021 Honda Passport also came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering the same 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission across all trims, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive.

The V6 engine in the Passport ensured strong acceleration, and the transmission managed power effectively. The stop-start system could be abrupt, but there was an option to deactivate it.

The Passport's ride was a balanced mix of comfort and handling, making it suitable for both daily commuting and weekend adventures. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud in the AWD variant, it was capable off-road. The FWD Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD version could handle up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured an 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, though higher trims like Touring, Elite, and Black Edition offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the seating to seven. Unlike some competitors, the Pilot's third-row could comfortably accommodate adults.

With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than rivals like the Kia Telluride (87 cubic feet), Hyundai Palisade (86.4 cubic feet), and Subaru Ascent (86.5 cubic feet). However, it offered more space than the Mazda CX-9 at 71.2 cubic feet. Higher trims included a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on the Touring and up.

The Pilot was designed for families, with ample storage for toys and gear. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed easier access to the third row without moving the seats. For parents, the conversation mirror was a handy feature to keep an eye on kids in the back.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering up to 100.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. With the second row in use, it provided 50.5 cubic feet, plus an additional 2.5 cubic feet in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims offered a hands-free power liftgate.

The seating position in the Passport provided excellent visibility and a commanding view of the road. The center console featured a deep bin and an open cargo tray below the shifter and cupholders. Both front and rear seats had deep pockets for water bottles and other items. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom and could both recline and slide for enhanced comfort.

The base LX trim of the Pilot had a 5-inch color LCD screen operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo system. Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port were standard. Other trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the interface was plagued by a confusing layout and lacked an actual tuning knob.

All trims except the LX included HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Cabin Control Remote Capability, allowing passengers to control the stereo via a smartphone app. The EX-L offered optional navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system, standard on Touring, Elite, and Black Edition, which also included a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability.

In 2021, Honda made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard on the Passport, integrating them with the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was an advantage over the Pilot, which required at least the EX trim for these features. Despite being standard, the infotainment controls still felt outdated, with a confusing menu layout and a subpar volume dial.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard safety features included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional features included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the highest scores from the IIHS, including a Superior rating in crash prevention.

The 2021 Honda Passport also came with advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors.

It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS gave it top scores in most crash tests, though it earned an Acceptable rating in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test, headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and an Advanced rating for front crash prevention.