2022 Volvo XC60 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 visually identical to that of the Pilot, including Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design instead of a conventional lever 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 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.

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, including a new front fascia with “air blades” and a redesigned rear bumper that hid the tailpipes. All models received new wheel designs and a reworked front grille with sensors for driver-assist systems moved behind the heated Volvo logo. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with the XC90, S90, S60, V90 Cross Country, and V60 Cross Country.

The interior remained largely unchanged except for a new digital instrument cluster. The clean design featured a portrait-oriented touchscreen with minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car had aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair. The Inscription trim level included Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Overall, the interior was subdued compared to other Volvo models.

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 engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, but it had a switch to disable it. 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.

For 2022, Volvo introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains for the XC60, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. Both combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 only in AWD. The B5 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid had a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

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 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 center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for storage. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, and they could recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2022 Volvo XC60’s interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom, tying with the Audi Q5 for the worst in its segment. Legroom in both rows was about average. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with them folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity, at 21.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 49.3 cubic feet with them down. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

For 2021, Honda made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard on the Passport, included with the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required upgrading to at least the EX trim for these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought, lacking a tuning dial.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a head-up display and upgraded audio systems from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins. The new system integrated Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. It also supported over-the-air (OTA) software updates and promised full iPhone compatibility, though without the added functionality of syncing a Google profile. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a “Calm” setting to minimize distraction.

The 2021 Honda Passport came 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, 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), with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time, but the 2021 model received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system, combining adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering, was available as an option.