2022 Honda Passport vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a familiar design that closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially in the front sections. This similarity was primarily due to a shared vehicle platform among the Passport, Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat, but with a distinct styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a more aggressive and rugged front-end design to enhance its appeal. Honda's effort to make the Passport look tough applied to all three available trim levels: the base EX-L, the TrailSport, and the upscale Elite. Each trim level featured new wheel designs for 2022. TrailSport was a new addition, targeting outdoor enthusiasts who sought off-road adventure, although its enhancements were more about aesthetics than significant off-road capabilities.

TrailSport models boasted 18-inch wheels with all-season tires that appeared more like all-terrain tires, a roof rack, simulated skid plates, and other minor design tweaks to reinforce its rugged look. Inside, the Passport stood out in the two-row midsize SUV segment with one of the largest interiors. The materials used in the interior were generally of high quality, and the vehicle was meticulously assembled. The TrailSport trim added unique touches like orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, embroidered emblems on the front seat headrests, and rubber all-season floor mats.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota RAV4, a vehicle initially launched in 1996, had evolved through generations to become a prominent figure in the crossover SUV market. By 2022, the RAV4 sported an angular and sophisticated design that included expressive headlights, a snub-nosed grille, and a playful yet aggressive lower fascia. The overall design was contemporary, blending sharp lines and geometric patterns. Toyota's hallmark fit and finish elevated the exterior's quality perception.

Inside, the RAV4 featured a layered dashboard with contrasting textures and colors anchored by a simple center stack. The touchscreen interface sat at an ideal height for minimal distraction. The interior design incorporated a geometric pattern inspired by circuit boards, creating a consistent theme found in various cabin elements, from cloth seat inserts to dashboard components. Similar patterns appeared on the Adventure-trim model's matte gray alloy wheels, showcasing attention to detail.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its robust powertrain featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine worked seamlessly with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and buyers could choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine was known for its smooth performance and responsive power delivery. The EPA estimated combined fuel economy at 22 mpg for FWD models and 21 mpg for AWD models. The TrailSport trim, tested extensively, averaged 21.3 mpg across various driving conditions.

For 2022, the Passport's i-VTM4 AWD system with mechanical torque vectoring was standard on the TrailSport and Elite trims. This system could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed, enhancing traction. The Passport excelled in daily driving, offering a firm, communicative ride and surprising athleticism. It felt stable and agile on twisty roads, thanks to its responsive steering and well-balanced suspension. However, there were some concerns regarding brake performance, especially on steep descents where the brakes could heat up and vibrate.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered a diverse range of powertrain options. The gasoline-only model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and buyers could choose between FWD and AWD. The FWD models achieved impressive fuel economy ratings, with 27-28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. AWD models returned slightly lower numbers, ranging from 25-27 mpg in the city and 32-34 mpg on the highway.

The RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 217 horsepower. This hybrid setup, paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT), delivered impressive fuel economy ratings of 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid, featured a 2.5-liter engine and a larger battery pack, generating a total of 302 horsepower. It offered a remarkable all-electric driving range of 42 miles and an efficiency rating of 94 MPGe combined.

Our test vehicle, the gasoline Adventure AWD model, provided adequate power for daily driving and highway use. The naturally aspirated engine delivered power smoothly and without turbo lag, offering a satisfying driving experience. The RAV4 retained its car-like handling, benefiting from a four-wheel independent suspension setup with MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. AWD models included Multi-Terrain Select tuning, enhancing off-road capability.

The 2022 Honda Passport excelled in terms of interior space and comfort. Its large doors and low step-in height made entry and exit easy. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, featuring leather upholstery and adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The three-zone automatic climate control system ensured a pleasant cabin environment for all passengers, with rear seat passengers in the Elite trim enjoying separate controls.

Cargo space in the Passport was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The rear seating area felt spacious, with ample room for legs, heads, and hips, complemented by large side windows that created an airy feel. Numerous storage compartments within the cabin, including a massive center console storage bin and door panel shelving, added to the Passport's utility.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 had also grown over the generations, offering practical interior space and functionality. It provided 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, which expanded to 69.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The RAV4's payload capacity ranged from 1,050 to 1,230 pounds, depending on the configuration. Towing capacity varied by trim, with the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds.

Inside, the RAV4 accommodated four passengers comfortably, with five occupants possible in a pinch. The front row offered ample legroom, hip room, shoulder room, and headroom, with individual bucket seats separated by a spacious center console. Cupholders, bottle holders, and storage compartments were abundant throughout the cabin, providing convenient places to stow small items.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered a straightforward infotainment system. Every trim level included an 8-inch touchscreen display, along with 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 access to a WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with essential shortcut buttons and a stereo volume knob, but it lacked a tuning knob, which could have been useful. Drivers often preferred using Apple CarPlay to navigate, as the built-in navigation system had limitations.

Toyota's 2022 RAV4, even in base trims, came well-equipped with technology. Standard features included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and streaming audio were standard across all models.

Higher trim levels, such as the XLE and above, upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with Audio Plus, while the Premium Audio setup on Limited models and the RAV4 Prime XSE included an 11-speaker JBL audio system and navigation. The RAV4 Prime showcased advanced technology with features like five USB ports, multiple power outlets, blue ambient lighting, and a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pad. An available bird's-eye view camera system and a 10-inch color head-up display were available on top trim levels.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the comprehensive Honda Sensing suite of driver aids. This included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. New for 2022 were a rear-seat reminder system and a seatbelt reminder system.

However, the Honda Sensing functions had some drawbacks. The lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble and the lane-centering assist's frequent adjustments often prompted drivers to disable these features. Additionally, the adaptive cruise control could be overly aggressive in braking when other vehicles merged into the gap ahead. Despite these issues, the Passport provided solid safety features and performed well in crash tests, earning five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but receiving a four-star rating for front-passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision. The IIHS also rated the Passport highly, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

Toyota's 2022 RAV4 included a robust set of safety features with the Star Safety System, which encompassed enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. It also featured LATCH child-seat anchors, child-guard door locks, and Safety Connect with emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, roadside assistance, and automatic collision notification.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 was standard on all RAV4 models, offering a suite of driver-assist systems, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane-tracing assist, and road sign assist. Higher trim levels added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear cross-traffic braking. The RAV4 received top safety ratings, earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick for the standard RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid, and a Top Safety Pick+ for the RAV4 Prime. It also received a five-star rating from the NHTSA.