2021 Land Rover Defender vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Land Rover Defender carried forward the legacy of its predecessors, which began with the original Land Rover Series I in 1948. The Defender name was first used in 1990, and the model retained its distinctive look and character through minor changes until 2016. The new Defender aimed to echo the vibe of previous generations while modernizing the SUV. It featured half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, and flat-topped fenders with diamond-plate patterns. The interior emphasized exposed structure, with a dash held between horizontal beams, beefy controls, and luxury-comfortable leather seating.

The 2021 Honda Passport, essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials. The dash layout was visually identical to the Pilot, featuring Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. Trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding more features such as leather upholstery, power moonroof, and advanced audio systems. The Passport provided a comfortable and refined ride, with ample headroom and legroom in the rear seats, which could recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S. The base model had a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful option was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response. The Defender boasted impressive off-road capabilities, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches. On-road, the Defender was quick, with the 2.0-liter model reaching 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter in 5.8 seconds. It also had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds.

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 Passport provided strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. The FWD model could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD model could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender, built on a unibody platform, featured four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension for enhanced on-road and off-road performance. The Defender offered flexible seating options, including a jump seat between the front seats and an optional third row in the long-wheelbase 110 model. Cargo space was generous, with the 110 model providing 34-34.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided up to 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 featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender featured Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing remote software updates for 14 individual modules. The Pivi Pro infotainment system included a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, with standard Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view, were available for off-roading. The audio system could be upgraded to a Meridian sound system with up to 700 watts of amplification. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, along with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the system had dated graphics and a confusing menu layout. The volume dial felt like an afterthought, but it was a welcome inclusion given the lack of a tuning dial.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags, tire pressure monitoring, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing but had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well-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 NHTSA and top "Good" scores from IIHS, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.