2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it featured an aggressive nose and a sloping, low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. The AMG trim added a sporty touch, but it still couldn't match the visual appeal of rivals like the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The 2021 GLE's cabin was a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures, featuring luxurious materials like wood, metal, leather, and suede. The red and black interior of the tested GLE Coupe was particularly striking, offering a sense of opulence that outshone even Porsche and Audi SUVs.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport adopted a more rugged look, closely resembling the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. This design choice was due to the shared platform between the Passport, Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The new nose design aimed to give the Passport a tougher appearance, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, in particular, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, featuring unique 18-inch wheels, a purposeful-looking roof rack, and simulated skid plates. Inside, the Passport offered a spacious and well-assembled interior with quality materials. The TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and rubber all-season floor mats, enhancing its rugged appeal.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled in performance, offering a range of engine options and advanced suspension systems. The base GLE 350 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, available in rear-wheel drive or optional 4Matic all-wheel drive. The GLE 450 upgraded to a 3.0-liter inline-six with 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, featuring an AIRMATIC air suspension for improved ride quality. The AMG GLE 53 took it further with 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, thanks to an electric supercharger. The GLE 580 boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, while the AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. All models, except the base GLE 350, featured a hybrid system that provided additional power and improved efficiency. The GLE's advanced suspension systems, including E-Active Body Control, allowed for exceptional handling and ride quality, making it feel agile despite its size. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with the AMG GLE 53 averaging 16 mpg.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The EX-L trim offered front-wheel drive, while the TrailSport and Elite trims came standard with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) all-wheel-drive system. This system featured mechanical torque vectoring, capable of delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. The Passport's V6 engine provided smooth and satisfying acceleration, and the SUV handled well on twisty roads, thanks to its firm and communicative ride. However, the Passport's off-road capabilities were limited, with less impressive wheel articulation. Fuel efficiency was decent, with the AWD model averaging 21.3 mpg. The Passport's brakes, however, showed signs of heating up and vibrating during mountain descents, which could be a concern for some drivers.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models featuring two rows of seats and an optional third row for seven-passenger seating. The second-row seats had power controls for recline, fore-aft adjustment, and headrest positioning. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five seats, with a more confined rear space due to its sloping roofline and large rear tires. Cargo capacity in the standard GLE was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe offered less cargo space, with 23 cubic feet behind the second row and 61 cubic feet with all rows folded. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability, featuring a single touchpad and a simplified interface. The interior controls were generally user-friendly, although some, like the thumbpads on the steering wheel, required a learning curve.

The 2022 Honda Passport excelled in interior space and comfort. Its large doors and low step-in height made entry and exit easy. The front seats were large and comfortable, with standard leather upholstery and heated seats. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The rear seats offered ample legroom, headroom, and hip room, with a slightly elevated seating position and large side windows that created an open and airy feel. The Passport also provided plenty of storage options, including a massive center console storage bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Passport's simple utility and comfort made it a practical choice for everyday use.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was packed with advanced technology. The main 12-inch touchscreen display featured Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures for various functions. The system could be controlled via a touchpad or thumbpad, and it became easier to use with familiarity. The AMG models included a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew functions and GPS lap timing. The GLE also offered features like Seat Kinetics, which made small adjustments to the seat for comfort, and Energizing Comfort, which played spa music and adjusted the cabin environment. The head-up display and instrument panel were highly customizable, and the ambient lighting offered 64 colors. The navigation system used augmented reality to overlay directions on the front camera feed. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a natural voice assistant, added to the GLE's tech-savvy appeal.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system was more basic but functional. All trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim included a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for the Home menu, a Back button, a screen brightness button, and a stereo volume knob, but lacked a tuning knob. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, and voice commands were not always reliable, making Apple CarPlay a preferred option for navigation. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but overall, the Passport's technology was not as advanced as the GLE's.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned top safety ratings, including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for its performance in six crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The NHTSA had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also featured Pre-Safe Sound, which played "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side, which inflated the side bolsters to better position occupants in a side impact. The brakes could prime the calipers for sudden stops, and the stability control could compensate for crosswinds.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included 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 as smooth as competitors. The blind-spot monitoring warning light was also poorly positioned. In crash tests, the Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal impact and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most areas but rated it as Acceptable for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.