2023 Acura MDX 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 the shared vehicle platform that Honda also used for the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat and with different styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look, particularly with the new nose design. The updated design applied to all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was intended to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about looks than actual capability. The TrailSport featured standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for various conditions. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport model we tested priced at $44,095.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S, on the other hand, aimed for a more luxurious and performance-oriented appeal. The Type S featured subtle styling cues, including chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, 21-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. Inside, the Type S Advance trim offered perforated Milano leather, aluminum interior trim, and a leather-wrapped dashboard. However, some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it challenging to use certain controls. The MDX Type S was priced from $49,550 to $73,200, with our test vehicle costing $74,995.

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 Passport offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), with the TrailSport and Elite trims featuring Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) AWD system. 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 excelled in everyday driving, offering firm, communicative ride quality and athletic handling. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was concerning given its 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience. The transmission was indecisive, the ride lacked compliance, and the brake pedal response was inconsistent. The MDX Type S averaged 16.9 mpg, falling short of its 19 mpg EPA rating.

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 and a spacious, airy feel. The Passport provided plenty of storage options, including a massive center console bin and various door panel compartments. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats, with the option to remove the center section of the second-row seat for easier third-row access. The Type S Advance trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. However, the seats were firm and didn't hold the driver in place as well as expected. The second-row seats were comfortable and supportive, with heating for the outboard positions. The third row was best suited for children. The MDX's cargo area was spacious, with 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Type S Advance also featured a hands-free liftgate with a Walk Away Close function.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, 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. The system was straightforward but lacked advanced features. The navigation system was clunky, and the voice command pathways were not always effective. However, the Passport did include wireless smartphone charging.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. The infotainment system used a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console, which was not as intuitive as a touchscreen. The MDX also included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display (HUD) and a top-shelf Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers. However, the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread signs, leading to incorrect speed limit displays.

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. The Passport also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions were intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Acura MDX included the Acura Watch suite of safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. However, the lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble was not ideal, and the adaptive cruise control was slow to resume speed after lane changes. The MDX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for driver and front passenger protection in the frontal-impact test.