2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to both vehicles sharing a platform with the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat and with distinct styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, targeted off-road enthusiasts with features like standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes. Despite its rugged appearance, the TrailSport was more about looks than actual off-road capability. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with our test vehicle priced at $44,095.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 had a more subtle, less flashy look compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The AMG GLS 63 and Maybach versions offered more visual drama with features like flared wheel arches, chrome accents, and larger wheels. The Maybach model also included luxuries like reclining rear seats and power running boards.

Our test car had a basic interior by GLS standards but still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well-integrated into the upright dashboard. Overall, the GLS 450's interior felt appropriate for a luxury SUV, offering high quality without being overly fragile.

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 SUV offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), with the V6 providing smooth and strong performance. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. Our TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg.

The Passport's AWD system, i-VTM4, featured mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport performed well on twisty roads, its off-road capabilities were limited. The SUV excelled in everyday driving, offering satisfying acceleration, a firm ride, and athletic handling. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was concerning given the Passport's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, assisted by the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The electric motor added 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The GLS 450's engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well-integrated. The inline-six engine offered smooth performance, making it suitable for a luxury vehicle.

The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, though some competitors offered more. The standard air suspension provided a comfortable ride but exhibited poor body control, leading to excessive motion over bumps and in corners. Despite this, the GLS 450's performance was generally impressive, with the six-cylinder engine delivering strong and smooth power.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit, thanks to its large doors and low step-in height. 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. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, headroom, and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows providing an open feel.

The Passport excelled in storage, with a massive center console bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The Passport's utility and comfort made it a practical choice for everyday use.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, featuring a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat and two third-row seats. An optional six-seat version replaced the bench with captain's chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, with the bench seat sliding as one piece to increase legroom by 3.4 inches.

The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Cargo space was slightly behind competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. However, the GLS made loading and unloading easy with one-touch power-folding seats and a power tailgate. The air suspension could also lower for easier access to the cargo area.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, 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 and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob.

During our road trip, we preferred using Apple CarPlay over the Passport's navigation system, which required specific voice command pathways. The wireless smartphone charging was a welcome feature, but overall, the Passport's technology was not particularly advanced.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. A 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display as an option.

Mercedes offered multiple control options, including voice recognition, a touchpad controller, steering wheel touchpads, and the touchscreen. The voice recognition system, activated by "Hey Mercedes," was the easiest to use. The touchpad controller was too sensitive, making it difficult to use. The touchscreen and instrument cluster had good graphics, but the navigation system occasionally suggested inefficient routes.

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 beams, a rear-seat reminder, and a seatbelt reminder system.

However, some Honda Sensing features were less refined. The lane-departure warning system wobbled the steering wheel, and the lane-centering assist frequently adjusted steering input unexpectedly. The adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic, and the blind-spot monitoring light was poorly placed. Despite these issues, the Passport provided effective driver-assist tech.

In NHTSA testing, the Passport received five-star ratings in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection in a frontal collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most areas, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Pre Safe tightened seat belts, closed windows and the sunroof, and adjusted seats in anticipation of a rollover. The audio system emitted "pink noise" to protect ears during a collision.

Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, second-row side airbags, and advanced driver-assistance features like Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.