2021 Jeep Cherokee vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling features had mellowed since its debut. Initially, the very short grille opening and the swept-back headlights were controversial, but after seven years, it appeared better proportioned. The exterior appearance varied notably depending on the trim level chosen. The entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and front-wheel drive (FWD) had a common look, reminiscent of rental cars. In contrast, the 80th Anniversary Edition, with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding, looked far more refined.

Jeep's design ingenuity with the roof was also commendable. While the Wrangler provided three different top options and the Renegade included a sliding top plus removable panels, the Cherokee offered an optional panoramic sunroof that spanned the entire roof surface. When in a crowded parking lot, the Cherokee stood out amidst a sea of crossover SUVs, bearing a strong resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee, especially from the front.

The 2021 Honda Passport, on the other hand, was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, foregone with two rows of seats instead of three. This design similarity was evident upon mere inspection. The Passport could almost be considered a Pilot Sport. This styling continuity continued inside as well, with the Passport's dashboard layout being visually identical to that of the Pilot. One downside shared by both models was Honda’s unusual “button shifter” design instead of a conventional lever for controlling the automatic transmission.

The Passport boasted a spacious, high-quality interior, and was available in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Each trim offered unique features, ranging from 20-inch alloy wheels and LED fog lights in the Sport trim to heated and ventilated front seats and wireless device charging in the Elite trim. The exterior was further enhanced by a power moonroof and hands-free liftgate in higher trims, appealing to those looking for added convenience and luxury.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered a trio of engines determined by the trim level. The base Latitude and Latitude Plus trims housed a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower. The V6, found in upper trims, improved dramatically with 271 hp from a 3.2-liter engine. The most powerful option was the 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 270 hp and generating 295 pound-feet of torque, compared to the V6’s 239 lb-ft. This turbo-four engine was available in the 2021 Latitude Lux and Limited trims. Despite these options, acceleration was not the Cherokee’s strongest suit, with the V6 and turbo-four posting 0-60 mph times around 7.2 and 7.4 seconds, respectively.

Every Cherokee was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF, lauded for fuel savings and smooth operation. Jeep’s reputation for off-road prowess was upheld by the Cherokee Trailhawk model, which excelled on trails thanks to features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. The Cherokee was also available in FWD, making it more accessible price-wise, especially for rental fleets.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission. It boasted FWD as standard and optional AWD. The Passport's acceleration was strong, and the automatic transmission handled power delivery efficiently. However, the engine's stop-start system could be abrupt, though it was easily deactivated via a switch.

Geared towards a smooth and refined ride, the Passport was optimized for commuting and weekend adventures rather than extreme off-roading. Still, it offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featured Intelligent Traction Management with drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. For towing capabilities, the FWD Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD version could handle up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee nestled between the smaller Renegade and larger Grand Cherokee in Jeep’s lineup, placing it among compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, its utility fell short in comparison. With 26 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 55 cubic feet when the second-row seats were folded, it lagged behind competitors such as the Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Kia Sportage. The Cherokee provided approximately 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive, though not outstanding.

The Cherokee’s interior layout was simple and businesslike. The base Latitude trim featured abundant rubberized black plastic, while the higher-end Trailhawk and Latitude Lux offered more upscale materials, including suede seat inserts and perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity. With the second-row seats in use, it provided up to 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to a generous 100.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Additionally, there was an under-floor storage tray offering an extra 2.5 cubic feet. The Passport’s trims added various conveniences, such as a power liftgate in EX-L and a hands-free power liftgate in Touring and Elite trims.

The upright seating position in the Passport provided excellent visibility and a commanding view of the road. The interior was designed thoughtfully, with a deep center console bin, an open cargo tray below the shifter, and ample in-door pockets in both the front and rear for small items and water bottles. Rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom and were both reclining and sliding for added comfort.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured the highly-praised Uconnect infotainment system. Available with 7-inch and 8.4-inch touchscreens, depending on the trim, the system was intuitive and responsive. It offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa integration. Heat and air conditioning controls were straightforward, using up/down buttons and a rotary knob, a significant ease-of-use advantage over competitors. Remote start was also available, a feature not universally offered.

Honda made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard in the 2021 Passport, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This move was appreciated, though the system itself had dated graphics and a confusing menu layout. The audio interface's volume dial felt like an afterthought, and there was no tuning dial, making usability somewhat cumbersome.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee showed mixed results in safety ratings. The IIHS gave it “Good” scores across most crashworthiness categories, but its headlight rating ranged from “Acceptable” to “Marginal,” depending on the trim. The NHTSA awarded the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating, citing some issues with front driver side crash protection. The Cherokee featured substantial standard safety equipment like lane departure warning, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was limited to the Limited and Trailhawk trims as an optional feature.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in safety, receiving a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS in most crash tests. However, it earned "Acceptable" ratings for the passenger-side small overlap front crash test and for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use. It also received a second-tier "Advanced" rating for its front crash prevention tech. Standard safety included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Buyers could add features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors.