2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

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 these corporate design choices, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. Trim levels ranged from Sport to Elite, each adding more features such as leather upholstery, power moonroof, and advanced navigation systems.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 shared its platform and mechanicals with the Nissan Armada, but it had a distinctive front-end styling thanks to the familial Infiniti grille. The QX80's exterior featured tastefully integrated LED lighting and conservative use of chrome, giving it an upscale look. Inside, the QX80's cabin was furnished with unique and more upscale materials compared to the Armada, including quilted semi-aniline Saddle Brown leather seats and tasteful wood trim. However, despite its luxurious interior, the QX80's style was starting to feel outdated compared to its premium full-size SUV competitors.

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 drive modes. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a robust 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and manual mode. The QX80's V8 delivered strong performance and a pleasing exhaust note, although it was quite thirsty and required premium fuel. The QX80 offered standard two-wheel drive (2WD) and optional four-wheel drive (4WD) with a computer-controlled transfer case. It had 9.2 inches of ground clearance and a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. The QX80 managed to control body lean well during cornering, thanks to the available Hydraulic Body Motion Control system.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 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 of under-floor storage was also available. 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 they could both recline and slide.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 required a climb to enter due to its nearly two-foot step-in height, a result of its body-on-frame construction. Inside, the cabin felt spacious and airy, with good front-seat head- and legroom. The QX80 could hold up to eight passengers with the optional second-row bench-seat package, or seven with second-row captain's chairs. However, the third-row seating was cramped for adults. Cargo space measured 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The power-operated liftgate and third-row seats were slow to operate, but the illuminated kick plates and cargo scuff plate added a premium touch.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The display also included navigation with lane guidance and voice recognition. A Bose 13-speaker premium sound system was standard, while the top Sensory trim got a 17-speaker Performance Series Bose system. The QX80 also had a wireless smartphone charger and a dual-screen rear entertainment system. However, it lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older vehicle systems architecture.

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 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).

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 came with standard safety features such as forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety items included driver attention alert, front knee airbags, and seat belt pre-tensioners for second-row outboard passengers. The QX80 received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from NHTSA, and the structurally similar 2021 QX80 received four stars for overall crash protection.