2021 Honda Passport vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out in a crowd with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights added to its distinctive look. The Highlander managed to appear longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size. The XSE trim level, introduced in 2021, featured a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia, giving it a sporty appearance. However, the Limited trim, with its chrome roof rails and upscale interior, truly shined, offering near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, and elegant wood details.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, with two rows of seats instead of three. The styling similarities between the two were evident, both inside and out. The Passport's dash layout was visually identical to the Pilot's, featuring Honda's awkward "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials. Trim levels ranged from Sport to Elite, with each offering a variety of features such as leather upholstery, power moonroof, hands-free liftgate, and heated and ventilated front seats. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with plenty of headroom, legroom, and storage options.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. While it wasn't designed for drag races, it provided smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The Highlander's powertrain was comparable to competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, though it fell short of the Mazda CX-9's torque. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, enhancing its driving excitement without turning it into a track beast.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive as standard and optional all-wheel drive. The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Intelligent Traction Management for AWD models. It could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and 5,000 pounds with AWD, making it suitable for both commuting and weekend adventures.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in keeping driver and passengers comfortable, with ample legroom in the second row and adjustable seats for maximizing space. However, the third row was best suited for short trips or children. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. The placement of rear-seat climate control vents on the ceiling was a minor inconvenience, but overall, the Highlander provided a practical and spacious interior.

The 2021 Honda Passport, with its rear seats folded, offered a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space. With the second row in use, it provided up to 50.5 cubic feet, plus an additional 2.5 cubic feet in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim and above featured a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on the Touring and Elite trims. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console offered ample storage. The rear seats were spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom, and could both recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, though the navigation system struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch screen was bright and crisp, but its limited use of the full width for certain apps made its added expense questionable.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the Pilot, which required a higher trim for these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of a volume dial was a small consolation.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Honda Passport also offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.