2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover had evolved significantly from its utilitarian roots, transforming into a symbol of luxury and sophistication. Initially designed as a rugged vehicle, it had become a status symbol, offering a range of upscale features such as heated, ventilated, and massaging seats wrapped in premium leather. The Range Rover's design, with its hallmark blacked-out windshield and roof pillars, exuded timeless elegance, reminiscent of a classic Porsche 911. Despite its age, the SUV maintained a modern appeal, with a luxurious interior that boasted a high-contrast design and a mid-century modern ambiance. However, the infotainment system, while advanced, was not as intuitive as newer models, requiring some patience to master.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a two-row version of the Honda Pilot, offering a spacious and practical interior. The Passport's design was straightforward, with a dash layout similar to the Pilot's, and it featured Honda's unique "button shifter" design. The interior was roomy, with high-quality materials and a focus on functionality. The Passport came in four trim levels, each offering a range of features from basic to luxurious, with the Elite trim providing heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging. The Passport's design was practical, with a focus on comfort and convenience for both the driver and passengers.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a variety of powertrain options, including a turbodiesel V6, a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, and hybrid choices. The HSE Westminster special edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth and rapid acceleration. The Range Rover's 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response 2 traction control, ensured its off-road capabilities. Despite its size, the Range Rover offered a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension, although it required a more measured approach on winding roads. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 20 mpg, but real-world testing showed an average of 18.5 mpg.

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. The Passport offered strong acceleration and smooth power delivery, although the engine's stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport's ride was comfortable and refined, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes. The Passport was not designed for extreme off-roading but was capable of handling light trails. It offered a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds for FWD models and 5,000 pounds for AWD models.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier access, although shorter passengers still found entry challenging. The front seats were luxurious, with quality leather upholstery, but the second row lacked comfort, offering little thigh support and a slouched seating position. Storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments and a small refrigerated center console bin. The cargo area provided 25 cubic feet of space, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet, but was less than some smaller vehicles. A button in the cargo area allowed for easier loading by lowering the suspension.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in interior space, offering 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 Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console featured ample storage options. The rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort. The EX-L trim and above included a power liftgate, with the Touring and Elite trims offering a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured a fully digital instrumentation and infotainment system with three displays. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system, while advanced, was not entirely intuitive and could be distracting while driving. The Range Rover included a head-up display, although it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The SUV offered a waterproof Activity Key wristband and an iGuide smartphone app for added convenience. The touch-sensing steering wheel controls and voice control commands helped mitigate some of the system's complexities.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While these features were a welcome addition, the system's graphics and menu layout were dated and confusing. The inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, although the overall audio interface lacked a tuning dial. Despite these shortcomings, the standard smartphone connectivity features were a significant advantage over the Honda Pilot.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Optional packages added features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, although the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond in certain situations.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well-equipped with safety features, including 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 the NHTSA and "Good" scores from the IIHS, although it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.