2021 Honda Passport vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. This similarity was evident in its design, both externally and internally. The Passport’s dashboard layout was visually identical to that of the Pilot, including Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. Trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding more features such as leather upholstery, power moonroof, and advanced audio systems as you moved up the range.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its looks with Nissan’s new signature exterior design. The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL trim. The redesigned exterior featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern yet robust appearance. The interior, however, remained somewhat dated despite tech upgrades. The Armada offered a spacious cabin with options for captain’s chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity from eight to seven. Cargo space was ample but slightly below average for the segment.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well. The Passport’s ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes. Towing capacity was up to 3,500 pounds for FWD models and 5,000 pounds for AWD models.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque when using premium fuel, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offered automatic four-wheel drive (4WD). Despite its weight, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and up to 9.2 inches of ground clearance. Fuel economy was a weak point, with RWD models getting 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, and 4WD models getting 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. The Armada had a best-in-class towing capacity of 8,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage 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 the center console had a deep bin and open cargo tray. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets, and the rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, being a full-size SUV, required a bit of a hop to get in and out, but standard running boards and in-cabin handles made it easier. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen was a standout feature, though some controls were a bit of a reach. The front seats were power-adjustable, and the second row could be configured with captain’s chairs for added comfort. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The high load floor made loading and unloading a bit challenging, and small-item storage was limited, though the center console bin was spacious.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this was a significant advantage, the system’s dated graphics, confusing menu layout, and lack of a tuning dial were drawbacks. The volume dial felt like an afterthought, but at least it was included.

Nissan significantly upgraded the tech in the 2021 Armada. The 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen was the largest in its class and highly responsive. Standard features included navigation, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, NissanConnect Services, keyless entry with push-button start, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Available features included a wireless charging pad, 13-speaker Bose audio system, rearview camera mirror, and a second-row entertainment system. The Armada Platinum trim came with all these features as standard.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well-equipped 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. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it had "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use, and an "Advanced" rating for front crash prevention tech.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, though it received a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA due to a 23.7-percent rollover risk. Standard safety features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, which offered automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and rear door alert. Advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist were not available.