2021 Honda Passport vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting including puddle lamps, additional lower body trim, exclusive 20-inch wheels, upgraded interior detailing, and a simulated suede interior headliner. These features made the Calligraphy trim look fancier than other Palisades, drawing attention with its unconventional styling. Inside, the Calligraphy’s cabin, with its Beige over Navy Blue color scheme, quilted and stitched premium Nappa leather, and suede headliner, appeared far more luxurious than its price suggested.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. The Passport’s interior closely resembled the Pilot’s, including the same dash layout and the awkward “button shifter” design. Despite these corporate design choices, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials. Trim levels ranged from the entry-level Sport to the range-topping Elite, each adding more features and luxury as you moved up the lineup.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a powerful and quiet 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding Snow mode and a Lock function for improved low-speed traction. The Palisade AWD had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg. The Palisade’s firmer suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive without encouraging aggressive behavior. It also offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, with a new seven-pin trailer pre-wiring connector for 2021.

The 2021 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport came standard with front-wheel drive, with optional all-wheel drive. The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well, though the engine's stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport’s ride was optimized for comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models offering Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The FWD Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD version could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space, seating, and accessibility. The driver and front passenger enjoyed eight-way power-adjustable seats, with the driver also getting an adjustable thigh support cushion and a heated steering wheel. The front seats and second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, and third-row passengers had separate climate controls and rear side-window sunshades. The Palisade offered 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate was a convenient feature, though it could be turned off if desired.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 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. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage was available. The EX-L trim included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, and they could both recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Both systems could pair two smartphones to Bluetooth simultaneously, but only the 8-inch setup offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Calligraphy trim included SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, Blue Link connected services, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Other features included wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, Quiet Mode, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard with its newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the Passport’s infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of smartphone connectivity features as standard was a significant advantage.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and multiple lane-keeping systems as standard. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a more sophisticated ultrasonic rear occupant alert system, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, and a Blind View Monitor. Highway Drive Assist was a standout feature, providing smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

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 NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it only managed "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.