2022 Toyota Highlander 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 design closely mirrored that of the Pilot, earning it the nickname "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout was nearly identical to the Pilot's, sharing Honda's unique "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. The trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each offering a range of features from 20-inch alloy wheels and LED fog lights to leather upholstery and a hands-free liftgate.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander, on the other hand, showcased a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and unique window design gave it a compact appearance, but inside, it offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions. The Highlander was available in trims such as L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The XSE trim stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander provided a range of features from an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system to a hands-free power liftgate in higher trims.

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 (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Passport's V6 engine delivered strong acceleration, and its ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling. It featured 8.1 inches of ground clearance and an Intelligent Traction Management system with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and up to 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander also came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, but it produced 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and available AWD, with a drive-mode button for Sport, Normal, and Eco modes. The Highlander's V6 engine provided better pickup once moving and a throaty exhaust note. It handled well in various scenarios, with the XSE trim featuring a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds, with a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered 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. It also had an additional 2.5 cubic feet in an under-floor storage tray. The Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and its center console featured a deep bin and open cargo tray. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with reclining and sliding capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The Highlander's interior was versatile, with deep cargo pockets, extra ledges, and a spacious center console. The XSE trim featured second-row captain's chairs, creating a center aisle to the third row. While the second-row seats were spacious for adults, the third row was more suitable for short trips.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, its infotainment controls were criticized for dated graphics and a confusing menu layout. The system included a volume dial but lacked a tuning dial.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a standard WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available.

The 2021 Honda Passport was 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 and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with some "Acceptable" ratings.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and additional safety features. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were noted for being very active.