2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Ford Explorer

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 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, and a seven-speaker audio system. 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. The top-tier Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a wide range of models, from the base trim to the luxurious King Ranch. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing its MSRP to $59,880. The King Ranch’s exterior had unique emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets, but otherwise looked similar to other Explorer models.

The Explorer’s rear-drive platform allowed for a long and tall hood, a rakish roofline, and a tapering greenhouse, giving it an athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The cabin had a mix of high-quality and questionable materials, but mostly felt worthy of its price point. The King Ranch’s interior was available only in a chocolate brown over caramel color combination.

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 Intelligent Traction Management for AWD models. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD, with 4WD available. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The Explorer Limited offered an efficient hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, making a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and up to 27 mpg in combined driving.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, available in the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, produced 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. This engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, RWD or 4WD, and could tow up to 5,600 pounds. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle had an official rating of 20 mpg, and averaged 20.6 mpg on the testing loop. The Explorer’s ride felt robust and capable, with 7.9 inches of ground clearance. The Timberline models offered almost 8.7 inches of ground clearance for better off-road capability.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 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 offered excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, and could both recline and slide.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The third-row seat was suitable only for children due to the rear-drive platform, low rear roofline, and tapered tail. The King Ranch trim included triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom.

Practical storage space in the Explorer’s cabin was limited. The center console storage bin was stingy, and the front door armrests lacked a tray. The wireless charging pad and smartphone holder were well-shaped but easy to forget. The rear seat door panels had built-in cupholders, and there was a shallow tray with more cupholders between the captain’s chairs. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat. With the third-row seats folded, there was 47.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was an advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required moving up to at least the EX trim for these features. However, the Passport’s infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated, while the larger screen looked like an afterthought. Our test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch also featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system.

Ford’s next-generation Sync 4 technology was not available in the Explorer, and the differences between it and Sync 3 were significant. The voice recognition system struggled with commands, and the system did not recognize Washington D.C. as a valid destination. Practical storage space within the cabin could be better, and the lack of practical pockets, shelves, cubbies, and hooks was noticeable.

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 a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and top "Good" scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for every version. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 Explorer, but the previous year’s model earned five-star ratings across the board except for rollover resistance. Ford equipped every 2022 Explorer with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Explorer also had standard automatic high-beam headlights and a post-collision braking system.