2021 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Land Rover Defender carried a rich legacy dating back to 1948, with its design inspired by the Willys Jeep. Over the years, the Defender evolved through various iterations, maintaining its distinctive look and character. The new Defender aimed to echo the vibe of its predecessors while incorporating modern elements. It featured half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, and flat-topped fenders with a diamond-plate pattern. The interior emphasized exposed structure, with a dash held between horizontal beams, beefy controls, and luxury-comfortable leather seating.

The 2022 Honda Passport, on the other hand, shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot. It was essentially a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat, featuring a new nose design for a tougher look. The TrailSport trim aimed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about looks than actual capability. The Passport's interior was spacious, with large, comfortable seats, plenty of storage, and a generous cargo area. The TrailSport trim added unique design elements like orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response were standard. The Defender boasted impressive off-road capabilities, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and 35.4 inches of wading depth. 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 had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), with the TrailSport and Elite trims featuring Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) AWD system. The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and responsive, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. The TrailSport trim averaged 21.3 mpg in various driving conditions. The Passport excelled on-road, with satisfying acceleration, firm and communicative ride, and athletic handling. However, its brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern given its 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender rode on a unibody platform shared with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery, making extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction and strength. It featured four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension, enhancing both 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 seat in the long-wheelbase 110 model. Cargo space was generous, with 34-34.6 cubic feet behind the second row in the 110 and 15.6 cubic feet in the 90. The 110 model had a maximum cargo capacity of 78.8 cubic feet.

The 2022 Honda Passport provided easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, headroom, and a slightly elevated seating position. The Passport offered plenty of storage, including a massive center console storage bin and various cupholders. Cargo space was also generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender featured Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing for remote software updates. It was the first Land Rover to use the Pivi Pro infotainment system, with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Standard features included 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 14 speakers. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for easy navigation, but the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a drawback. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, and voice commands were not always effective. However, Apple CarPlay and Siri worked seamlessly. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's overall technology was not particularly advanced.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, it came with an extensive 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, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, ensuring its safety and reliability.

The 2022 Honda Passport included the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions were intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.