2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with its timeless design, featuring circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. Its rugged appearance, reminiscent of a toy truck for adults, was unmistakable on the road. The Wrangler offered various trim levels, each with unique styling elements, but all retained the core design that made it instantly recognizable. Inside, the Wrangler prioritized function over comfort, with an upright seating position, limited legroom, and manual seat adjustments, which some drivers found charming rather than inconvenient.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, with two rows of seats instead of three. Its styling closely resembled the Pilot, both inside and out, including the awkward "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials. The trim levels ranged from Sport to Elite, each offering a variety of features, from leather upholstery and power moonroof to advanced audio systems and navigation. The Passport's design focused on providing a comfortable and practical driving experience.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and the powerful Hemi V8. Most buyers opted for the standard 3.6-liter V6, delivering 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were enhanced by three four-wheel-drive systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the latter featuring front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, produced 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, transforming the Wrangler into an off-road powerhouse.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with optional all-wheel drive. The Passport's ride was optimized for comfort and handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Intelligent Traction Management for AWD models. While not designed for extreme off-roading, the Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and 5,000 pounds with AWD, making it suitable for light off-road adventures and towing needs.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, providing a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with limited storage space but practical features like drain plugs for easy cleaning. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the wheel-wells and roll-bars could limit larger items.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 100.8 cubic feet 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 Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the cabin featured ample storage options, including deep center bins and in-door pockets. The rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's base Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, but higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens featured crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by steering wheel radio toggles. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trims, integrated with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this was a step forward, the system's dated graphics and confusing menu layout left room for improvement. The inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, though the lack of a tuning dial was noted.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, such as forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. However, many features were not standard, and lane-departure warning was unavailable. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well-equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.