2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. This similarity was evident at a glance, leading some to dub the Passport a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout mirrored that of the Pilot, including Honda's awkward "button shifter" design instead of a conventional lever. Despite these corporate design choices, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

Trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport came with features like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L trim 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. The top-tier Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold first impression with its massive size and unapologetic design. The grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its bulk, with the taillights vaguely recalling classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive more than a car. The various styling elements emphasized the Escalade's bulk, making it distinct from other GM full-size SUVs. The 22-inch wheels on our test car looked tiny compared to the vast expanse of sheet metal.

The Escalade followed Cadillac's pattern of offering different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim, including a mesh grille. The Escalade rode on the same body-on-frame architecture as other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, which may not seem ideal for a luxury vehicle but has been a successful formula. The interior featured leather upholstery, wood trim, and a massive panoramic sunroof, but lacked a cohesive design theme. Some materials looked nice, but there were still cheap-looking plastic bits.

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 engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, but there was a switch to disable it. 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 drive modes. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices. The standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A $100 option was GM’s Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine, producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel drive (4WD). A 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V performance model was available with a 682-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The diesel engine provided smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it an asset when pulling away from a stop. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, slightly more than the diesel. However, the Escalade's ride was unsettled, with the body never feeling settled and vibrations from pavement imperfections.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered a generous 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 center bin and an open cargo tray. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for storage. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and legroom, and they could recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while the extended Escalade ESV was a cousin of the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the ESV was 227 inches long. This platform sharing resulted in a cavernous cabin, offering the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs. Second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat were standard, with a power-folding 60/40 bench seat available as a no-cost option. The Escalade offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console provided limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats with massage and lumbar support felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade’s GM cousins.

For 2021, Honda made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard on the Passport, 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 CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. The audio interface lacked a tuning dial, which was a notable omission.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured one of the most elaborate infotainment displays in any current production vehicle. The 38-inch curved OLED display consisted of three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. Cadillac paid attention to how the display fit into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit the screen's shape. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions were retained. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward to use while driving, and the rotary controller seemed like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided unparalleled resolution for the standard 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. A 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was standard, but difficult to tune properly.

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. Available 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, with "Acceptable" ratings for the passenger-side small overlap front crash test, headlights, and child-seat anchor ease of use. The front crash prevention tech received a second-tier "Advanced" rating.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring standard on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trim levels, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways and used a driver-facing camera to check for distraction. While the system occasionally disengaged for unknown reasons, it provided smooth and natural responses. The Escalade's safety ratings were not published by the IIHS or NHTSA for this model year.