2020 Honda Passport vs 2020 Toyota 4Runner

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs allowing it to tackle steep pitches and sharp declines. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. Small, angular headlights highlighted the front end, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The Limited trim featured bright chrome bars. The trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, and the new Venture Special Edition. The Nightshade and Venture trims added a stealth aesthetic with blacked-out trim pieces, and the Venture came with 17-inch TRD wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof rack.

Our test model, a Limited trim, was aimed at comfort rather than capability. It featured leather upholstery, although lower trims came with cloth or SofTex material. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard across all trims. Despite the chrome and leather, the 4Runner Limited still had a utilitarian feel, with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading rather than highway driving.

The 2020 Honda Passport followed the Honda playbook closely, offering a practical and reliable design. The exterior resembled a pared-down Honda Pilot but with a more rugged and athletic appearance. It was positioned between the Pilot and CR-V in size, capability, looks, and price. The five-passenger Passport came in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim, as tested, was loaded with features. All trims had a scratch-resistant matte black grille and bumper, 20-inch black alloy wheels, black-rimmed LED headlights, chrome exhaust finishers, and gloss-black trim. The Passport had more ground clearance than the Pilot, with 0.5 inches more on FWD models and 1.1 inches more on AWD models, elevating it into off-roader territory.

The interior of the Passport was more sophisticated than rugged, with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-to-the-touch materials. The cabin was nearly identical to the Honda Pilot, which was a positive aspect. The Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, an illuminated beverage holder, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and width, with a button-heavy shifting mechanism taking up minimal space. The materials and layout were practical and familiar to Honda buyers, avoiding unnecessary reinvention. Lower trims offered various packages, including Urban and Adventure packs, adding features like crossbars, underbody spoilers, and running boards. Honda Sensing safety technology and navigation were available on the Touring grade for an extra fee.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner was built on a truck chassis and featured a 4-liter V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine was not designed for smoothness or fuel efficiency but for durability and off-road capability. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined, with our test achieving 17.7 mpg. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like Toyota’s CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select. The 4Runner was available with RWD or 4WD, with the latter being more suitable for off-roading. The Limited trim had a full-time 4WD system, while TRD models had a part-time system for better off-road performance.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine provided sufficient power for various driving situations but had average fuel economy. FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The large 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 400 miles of range. The Passport performed well in various conditions, including high elevations and off-road trails. The Elite trim came standard with torque-vectoring AWD, enhancing stability and control. The Passport had Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes for off-road capability. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tight turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, and an 8-inch touchscreen with physical buttons. The steering wheel had an array of buttons for various functions, but they were not illuminated. The 4Runner had a tall seating position, with power-retractable running boards on the Limited trim. The optional third row of seats was best for short and occasional use, with limited legroom and comfort. The third-row seats folded toward the floor and slid backward, making them narrow and thin.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical, with a right-sized design providing good visibility and spacious seats for four adults. It did not offer a third row. The front-row seatbelts were height-adjustable, and there were three full LATCH connections in the second row. The seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery standard and perforated leather available. The Passport had tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades. It offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The load floor was high, but a power liftgate was standard. The Passport excelled in small-item storage, with a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. Harder plastic surfaces were easy to clean, while piano black trim pieces required frequent dusting.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system was easier to use than Toyota’s proprietary system, which had issues with navigation accuracy. The 4Runner also had Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services. Higher trims offered a JBL stereo and navigation system. Despite these updates, the 4Runner lagged behind competitors in total features and usability. The advanced features were more focused on the powertrain than the dashboard.

The 2020 Honda Passport came standard with a 5.0-inch display monitor on the base Sport model, while higher trims had an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The Passport’s dashboard design was similar to the Pilot’s, looking slightly outdated but still functional.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also had eight standard airbags. The 4Runner received four out of five stars overall from the NHTSA, with three out of five in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests, except for a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test. The adaptive cruise control worked well, but the high center of gravity and imprecise steering made a more active lane-keeping assist system desirable.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, achieving 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 System, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also had a standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection. While it lacked some advanced driver-assist features found in competitors, the Passport’s safety technology was well-suited for most drivers.