2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out among midsize SUVs with its distinctive design, featuring wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights added to its unique appearance. The Highlander XSE trim, introduced in 2021, brought a sportier look with a restyled front end, 20-inch wheels, and a more aggressive lower spoiler.

Inside, the Highlander Limited trim exuded luxury with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, and dark brown trim. The wood details, although not real, looked fabulous. The interior was designed for comfort and convenience, making it an excellent choice for families. The Highlander thrived when it leaned toward luxury, offering a smooth and predictable driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Passport shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, giving it a familiar look. The Passport's new nose design aimed to give it a tougher appearance, and it was available in three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, introduced in 2022, targeted off-road enthusiasts with standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes.

Inside, the Passport offered a spacious and comfortable interior with quality materials. The TrailSport trim added unique touches like orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting. The Passport's large interior and ample storage space made it a practical choice for families. The cargo space measured 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured 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 not a performance powerhouse, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, but it didn't transform the Highlander into a track beast.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The EX-L trim offered front-wheel drive, while the TrailSport and Elite trims came with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) all-wheel drive system. The Passport's V6 engine provided satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. However, its brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and comfort. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats for storage, and second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom. The third row could accommodate adults, but only if the second-row passengers compromised on space. 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 folded.

The 2022 Honda Passport provided easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The front seats were comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Passport's interior was spacious, with plenty of storage options. It offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Limited trim offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen as an option. The Platinum trim featured the 12.3-inch screen as standard. Both systems were user-friendly, but the navigation system struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The JBL audio system sounded good but wasn't overly impressive.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio as standard. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim included a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The Passport's infotainment system met modern standards but needed an upgrade. The navigation system was clunky, and Apple CarPlay was preferred for ease of use.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came 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 2022 Honda Passport featured Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had 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 less refined, and the adaptive cruise control could be jerky. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings in most respects but rated it Acceptable for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.