2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport presented itself as a compact version of its sibling, the Pilot, sporting a two-row seating configuration that immediately reflected its familial lineage. The visual similarities between the two models were unmistakable, leading many to dub the Passport a "Pilot Sport." Inside the cabin, the Passport continued this theme with a dashboard layout virtually identical to the Pilot's. However, Honda opted for the controversial "button shifter" design over a conventional lever for the automatic transmission, which many found awkward. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious and high-quality interior, accentuated by well-chosen materials.

The 2021 Passport offered four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Sport trim came equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, a seven-speaker audio system, and a one-touch fold-down rear bench. The EX-L added features such as leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, walk-away auto-locking, and power-adjustable front seats. The Touring trim incorporated front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, a 115-volt wall-style power outlet, an upgraded 10-speaker stereo, satellite-linked navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The Elite trim, at the top of the range, included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and wireless device charging.

Comparatively, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe's XRT trim did not win hearts with its visual frippery. The lack of a suspension lift and tires with a more aggressive tread pattern made the XRT's styling package largely superficial. The XRT, one of five gasoline trim levels available for 2022, sat between the SEL and turbocharged Limited and Calligraphy trims. Starting at $34,095, it included front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), following the SEL’s Convenience Package features.

The test model sported Portofino Gray paint with a black cloth interior, offering little visual contrast and appearing almost monochrome on an overcast day. Inside, the decor, including interior patterns and brightwork, created a pleasant atmosphere. However, it was not as upscale as the higher Limited or Calligraphy trims but showed thoughtful design and solid quality for its price point.

Under its hood, the 2021 Honda Passport featured a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power was smoothly managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, with the option of FWD or AWD. The V6 engine delivered strong acceleration, making it suitable for both city commuting and light off-roading. The AWD model's Intelligent Traction Management system provided Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes, while FWD models could tow up to 3,500 pounds. AWD models offered a higher towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. However, the engine's stop-start system was somewhat abrupt and often preferred to be deactivated.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque—adequate but not exhilarating for a vehicle close to two tons in weight. It managed freeway speeds respectably but didn’t offer much excitement beyond basic acceleration. For more power, consumers had to look at the Limited or Calligraphy trims, featuring a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.

The XRT’s power was transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission, which performed its duty without fuss. However, the standard 2.5-liter engine occasionally felt underwhelming, especially when climbing hills or when a quick burst of speed was required. The Santa Fe offered various driving modes, including Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with the AWD system lockable for maximum traction at lower speeds. Fuel efficiency for the tested model averaged 22.3 mpg, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg. A notable advantage was the quiet and composed ride quality, enhanced by excellent suspension isolation and acoustic glass, curbing road and wind noise effectively.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering a generous 100.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 50.5 cubic feet of cargo room, supplemented by a 2.5-cubic-foot under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim onwards featured a power liftgate, while Touring and Elite trims boasted hands-free power liftgates.

Seating comfort in the Passport was commendable, with a high upright seating position ensuring excellent visibility. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets, and the center console featured a deep bin and an open cargo tray, enhancing storage utility. The rear seats were particularly spacious, providing ample headroom and legroom, and could both recline and slide, adding to their comfort.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT also focused on passenger comfort with standard dual-zone automatic climate control, a Clean Air ionizer, and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat in the XRT was well regarded, though the lack of a height-adjustable front passenger seat was a minor draw-back.

Rear-seat accommodations in the Santa Fe were spacious, catering well to families with ample legroom, foot room, and comfort. Child-safety features like rear side-window shades and plentiful USB ports added to the family-friendly nature. Storage was adequate, with the largest space located under the control "bridge." The Smart Tailgate feature made loading cargo easier but was prone to unintended openings. The Santa Fe had a cargo capacity of 36.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the release mechanism required additional effort to lay them flat.

The 2021 Honda Passport simplified its tech offerings by making Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trims, integrated with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the system's dated graphics, complex menu layout, and poorly designed volume control fell short of expectations.

Conversely, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT set a higher standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services with a three-year subscription, giving it a modern edge. The well-designed infotainment system offered intuitive controls, clear graphics, and easy-to-navigate menus.

Optional upgrades for higher trims of the Santa Fe included a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, adding further value.

Digital key technology was another highlight, allowing Android smartphone users to unlock and start the vehicle. Additionally, the Leading Vehicle Departure Alert helped with safe driving by notifying distracted drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

The 2021 Honda Passport came equipped with a suite of advanced safety features, including 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 earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and solid "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, although it scored "Acceptable" in passenger-side small overlap front tests, headlight efficiency, and child-seat anchor ease of use.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT offered an extensive list of standard safety features under Hyundai SmartSense, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and more. The XRT trim missed out on the Highway Driving Assist system yet still performed very well with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. Additional features like Junction Turning Detection, Safe Exit Assist, and ultrasonic rear occupant alert added layers of safety. Hyundai’s Bluelink also provided automatic emergency assistance, panic notifications, and parental controls for teenage drivers.

The Santa Fe earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.