2021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Mazda CX-30

The 2021 Honda Passport was introduced for the 2019 model year. It carries over to 2021 largely unchanged, but with some additional features. First used by Honda in the early 1990s, the Passport name harkens back to a time when SUVs were more about rugged off-road capability. SUVs are very different beasts these days, and the Passport bridges the gap as an adventurous crossover SUV that is designed with daily life in mind.

The Passport is closely related to the Honda Pilot. The fact that Honda offers multiple midsize SUVs might seem confusing. Automakers always talk about not wanting one model to cannibalize sales of another. Though the Honda Passport and the Honda Pilot are in the same category, the Passport stands out as a more active alternative. It leverages that older more rugged Honda nameplate and backs it up with some features not found on the family-hauling Pilot.

As a brand, Mazda has been punching above its weight for well over a decade now. Whether it’s the three-row CX-9 SUV or Mazda3 compact car, you can expect a higher-quality interior and a more refined ride than respective rivals in a given segment. This is no different for the 2022 Mazda CX-30.

The CX-30 is a subcompact crossover SUV introduced as a 2020 model, supplementing the similar-sized Mazda CX-3. It carries over to the 2022 model year, just as the CX-3 has been discontinued. The CX-30 addresses the shortcomings of the CX-3 without losing any of that crossover’s positive attributes. The CX-30 has a more spacious cabin than the CX-3, but retains the fun-to-drive nature, and has an even more upscale cabin. Read on to learn how Mazda’s new subcompact SUV stands out within this popular vehicle segment.