2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a postmodern automotive styling with its massive corporate grille, which paired well with its stout, chunky design. This design presented the idea of utility and dynamic handling, primarily delivering on the latter. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, a standout feature since its 2019 redesign. However, Volkswagen's similar interior designs made the Q3's cabin feel less special over time. The Q3 came in Premium and Premium Plus trims, with the Premium offering leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen. The Premium Plus added features like remote start, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, with two rows of seats instead of three. The styling similarities between the two were evident, both inside and out. The Passport's dash layout was visually identical to the Pilot's, sharing Honda's awkward button shifter design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials. Trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Sport trim featured 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, and tri-zone climate control. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and a power rear liftgate. The Touring trim included front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, and a WiFi hotspot, while the Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine option was previously standard but became a $2,000 option with a corresponding $2,000 reduction in the base MSRP. The more powerful engine provided lively performance and solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode, which enhanced throttle response and transmission mapping. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes. The base engine had noticeable turbo lag, particularly under hard acceleration or when passing on the highway. The Q3 offered nimble handling and a comfortable ride, striking a balance between engagement and refinement.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well, though the engine's stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, suitable for commuting and weekend adventures. It offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models included Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes. The FWD Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD version could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the total cargo space with the seats folded was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for this with ample passenger space. The front seats were comfortable with deep cargo pockets, and the rear seats offered impressive headroom and legroom. The Q3 could seat five, but four passengers could travel comfortably on a road trip, provided they packed light.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and up to 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of storage was available in an under-floor tray. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility and a commanding view of the road. The center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray below the shifter and cupholders. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for water bottles and other items. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and legroom, and they could recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, which featured logical menu navigation, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features were wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display that could present the navigation map across nearly the entire screen.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required moving up to at least the EX trim to get these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of a volume dial was a small consolation, as the audio interface lacked a tuning dial.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Buyers could also opt for a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist for parallel and perpendicular parking spots.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control that could stop and go with traffic. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Passport top "Good" scores in most crash tests, an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test, and "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use. The front crash prevention tech received a second-tier "Advanced" rating.