2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. Its exterior design closely mirrored that of the Pilot, leading some to refer to it as a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout was nearly identical to the Pilot's, sharing Honda's unconventional "button shifter" design. Despite these corporate design choices, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. The trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each offering a range of features from alloy wheels and LED fog lights to leather upholstery and advanced audio systems.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, reminiscent of the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. While it maintained a retro aesthetic with options like a white contrasting roof and steel wheels, the Defender's design was thoroughly modern, with rounded corners and recessed LED headlights. The interior was spacious and ergonomic, offering a comfortable driving position with good visibility. The Defender's rugged character was emphasized through its unique design elements, such as exposed screws and a mix of leather and suede upholstery, making it both stylish and practical for off-road adventures.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped 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 with optional all-wheel drive. The V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power effectively. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes for various terrains. It could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid with 395 horsepower, and a new 518-horsepower V8 engine. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The V8 engine delivered impressive performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. The Defender's suspension provided a comfortable ride on pavement, and its off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like a 4WD system with low range and Terrain Response 2. It could tow up to 8,201 pounds.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered generous cargo space, with 100.8 cubic feet available 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 interior featured ample storage options.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender's interior was designed for functionality, with 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. The two-door Defender 90 model offered limited cargo space, but the four-door Defender 110 model provided more options, with up to 70.4 cubic feet of cargo space. The interior design emphasized practicality, with a large center-console storage bin and optional features like a jump seat. The Defender also offered exterior cargo options, such as a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While these features were a welcome addition, the infotainment system's graphics and menu layout were considered dated and confusing. The volume dial felt like an afterthought, and the system lacked a tuning dial.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, with distinctive graphics and menu layouts. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it had some "Acceptable" ratings.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was common for luxury vehicles.