2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a striking resemblance with 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 SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and featured a more rugged design. Honda's updated styling 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, offering standard all-wheel drive and a higher ground clearance, although its enhancements were more aesthetic than functional.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Despite its spacious interior, the Highlander appeared compact from the outside. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior and unique exterior styling, including a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander offered a range of trims from L to Platinum, each adding more features and luxury. The Limited and Platinum trims provided upscale amenities like genuine leather upholstery, a hands-free power liftgate, and advanced audio systems, making them ideal for those seeking a more luxurious experience.

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. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with the latter being standard on the TrailSport and Elite trims. The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and responsive, providing satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. However, its brakes could become less reliable on mountain descents, which was a concern given its 5,000-pound towing capacity. The Passport averaged 21.3 mpg in various driving conditions, slightly below its EPA rating for AWD models.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with a drive-mode selector for different terrains. The Highlander's V6 provided strong performance, especially at highway speeds, and emitted a pleasing exhaust note. The XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension enhanced handling, reducing body roll while maintaining comfort. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds, matching the Passport's capability, and offered a max payload of 1,685 pounds in its FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with its large doors and low step-in height. Inside, it featured spacious and comfortable seating, with standard leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Passport's interior was roomy, with ample storage options and a generous cargo space of 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. Its simple utility and comfort made it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, and 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use. With all seats up, it offered 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The Highlander's interior was versatile, with deep cargo pockets, multiple storage trays, and cupholders throughout. The XSE trim featured second-row captain's chairs, creating a convenient aisle to the third row. While the second row was spacious, the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added navigation, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and WiFi hotspot. The system was functional but lacked modern advancements, and its navigation was clunky compared to smartphone integration. Wireless charging was standard, but the overall tech package was basic.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons complementing the touchscreen. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, along with a digital instrument panel and an 11-speaker JBL stereo. The Highlander's tech offerings were comprehensive and well-integrated.

The 2022 Honda Passport included the Honda Sensing suite, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, some features, like lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist, were intrusive. The Passport received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though it had room for improvement in certain areas.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense, offering forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and a surround-view monitor. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist were active but could be overly sensitive. The Highlander's safety features were robust and effective.