2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Lexus RX

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 for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport featured 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 Lexus RX was available in base 350, F Sport, and L trim levels, with a hybrid model designated as the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L trim offered a three-row, 7-passenger configuration. The RX design, modern and sporty, featured aggressive styling with razor-sharp character lines and angular features. The F Sport trim was the most athletic in appearance, with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, and unique front and rear bumpers.

Inside, the RX cabin maintained a luxury appeal across all trims, with the F Sport adding sporty elements like model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. The RX offered nearly a dozen color combinations, with the F Sport featuring NuLuxe synthetic leather in black or dark red. Despite the high-quality materials, the center stack felt dated due to an abundance of buttons. The RX had not been redesigned in seven years, though the 2020 refresh added new infotainment touchscreens.

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 blended 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 Lexus RX 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h added two high-torque electric motors for a combined output of 308 hp. All RX models had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The hybrid RX came with AWD only. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX lacked sporty performance, with unimpressive acceleration and engine noise. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and a Sport+ drive mode, but changes in driving dynamics were minimal. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, with EPA estimates of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined for the RX 350. The RX hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered 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 included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep bin and open cargo tray. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with reclining and sliding capabilities.

The standard two-row Lexus RX had 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably fitting four adults. Headroom was 39.4 inches in the front and 39.1 inches in the rear, with 44.1 inches of front legroom and 38.0 inches in the back. The three-row L models had limited cargo space, with 7.45 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the load-in height was high. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

For 2021, the Honda Passport included standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a poorly designed volume dial.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreens were ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip that partially blocked icons. The touchpad was hypersensitive and unintuitive. The RX offered quality tech features like six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start, vehicle settings, and service scheduling.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features like 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 top "Good" scores from the IIHS, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional features were blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights and received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.