2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2021 Honda Passport

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 nearly identical to that of the Pilot, including Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. 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, 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. The top-tier Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade joined Hyundai's lineup as the brand's SUV flagship, replacing the Santa Fe XL. The Palisade featured an elegant and striking exterior design, shedding Hyundai's past derivative designs. It had distinctive lines, a prominent grille, and sculpted wheel arches. The rear design included a continuous strip of glass surfaces, giving the impression of a floating rear roof. LED headlights, running lights, and taillights added to its signature look. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels were standard on SE and SEL models.

Inside, the Palisade was equally elegant and polished. It featured a horizontally arrayed screen, high-quality materials, and a beefy center console. The second row offered either a roomy bench or captain's chairs, while the third row was spacious enough for adults on short rides. Fit and finish were near-luxury levels, making the Palisade a worthy flagship. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy model was particularly stunning with its Steel Graphite paint and black interior 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 engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, but it had a switch to cancel 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 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The V6 had gasoline direct injection, dual variable valve timing, and was Atkinson-cycle-capable. It also had auto-stop-and-go settings to reduce idle time. The EPA estimated Palisade FWD models could achieve up to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, while AWD models had estimates of 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. The Palisade handled nicely, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes or up to 1,650 pounds without.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 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 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 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 Hyundai Palisade, as a minivan replacement, offered comfortable seating and easy access throughout the cabin. The third row had cupholders on each side, while the second-row captain's chairs were very comfortable. The front row had ample storage, including two compartments in the center console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space behind the third row was 18.0 cubic feet, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 86.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space. The Palisade featured a compact shift-by-wire setup for its gear selector, which took the form of four buttons on the center console. The Limited and Calligraphy trims included a dual-panel sunroof, enhancing the ambiance in the second and third rows.

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 drawback.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological leadership. The standard display audio system on SE and SEL models used an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models (optional on SEL) featured a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. Up to two devices could be connected simultaneously. The Palisade had multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless device charging pad, and several power outlets. A rear-view monitor with parking guidance was standard, with a surround view function on Limited and Calligraphy models. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also included a head-up display for the driver.

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) and top "Good" scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a comprehensive list of standard and available safety features. Passive safety features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts for all seating positions, LATCH anchors and tethers, active head restraints, and more. Standard active safety and advanced driver assistance features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for both FWD and AWD models.