2022 Nissan Armada vs 2021 Honda Passport

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 nearly identical to that of the Pilot, including the somewhat awkward "button shifter" design for the automatic transmission. 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 came with features like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, and tri-zone climate control. 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 Nissan Armada was a large SUV, closely related to the Nissan Titan pickup truck and the international Nissan Patrol SUV. It was 208.9 inches long, 75.8 inches tall, and 79.9 inches wide, with a minimum ground clearance of 9.1-9.2 inches. The Armada's exterior featured sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and a tasteful amount of chrome. The tailgate had a large expanse of convex glass and big taillamps. The Armada was available in seven colors, with wheel sizes ranging from 18 inches on the S and SV models to 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels on the Platinum trim.

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 Nissan Armada featured a 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. It came with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard and four-wheel drive (4WD) as an option, both using a seven-speed automatic transmission. RWD models had an EPA rating of 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined, while 4WD versions had 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined. The Armada could tow up to 8,500 pounds when properly equipped. It featured a four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbone front and rear, stabilizer bars, and twin-tube Hitachi shock absorbers, providing a supple, controlled ride.

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 center bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with reclining and sliding capabilities.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was designed to transport seven to eight people comfortably. The first row featured two bucket seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The second row could be a 60/40-split bench seat or captain's chairs, with a removable center console available on SL and Platinum trims. The third-row 60/40 split bench seat could accommodate three passengers and had power folding and reclining functions. The Armada offered 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with the second row down. A power liftgate was standard on SL and Platinum models.

For 2021, the Honda Passport included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard features, integrated with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While these features were a welcome addition, the infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with standard NissanConnect technology, featuring a 12.3-inch color touchscreen with a customizable split-screen option. Standard tech features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging (except on S models), NissanConnect telematics services, navigation, hands-free text messaging, a rear-view monitor, and satellite radio capability. The audio system ranged from a basic four-speaker setup on the S trim to a Bose-branded system with 13 speakers on the SL and Platinum models. All models included USB-A and USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well-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, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating 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 Nissan Armada included a comprehensive list of standard safety features, such as high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and rear-door alert. The Armada had dual-stage front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags. A trailer brake controller was standard on SV, SL, and Platinum models, while trailer sway control was standard on the SL and Platinum trims. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the 2022 Armada.