2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport bore a striking resemblance to the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the front. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform that Honda used for the Passport, Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and with distinct styling. Honda's design updates aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance, particularly with the new TrailSport trim, which was intended to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. However, the TrailSport was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability, although it did come with standard all-wheel drive and other features to handle various terrains. The Passport's interior was spacious, with quality materials and thoughtful design elements, making it a comfortable choice for families and adventurers alike.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design philosophy, focusing on clean and simple lines. While it didn't offer much in terms of flashy factory options, the Range Rover Sport exuded understated luxury with its Eiger Gray paint, silver 23-inch wheels, and a Deep Garnet over Ebony interior theme. The SUV was available in several specifications, including the SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e, each offering different levels of performance and luxury. The Range Rover Sport featured advanced design elements like premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and a high-tech interior with sustainable materials. Despite its minimalist approach, the Range Rover Sport maintained a sense of opulence and sophistication.

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. The SUV's handling was surprisingly athletic, making it enjoyable to drive on various terrains. However, the brakes were a concern, as they tended to heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which could be unsettling for drivers. The Passport's fuel economy was decent, averaging 21.3 mpg with the AWD system.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrains, including a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with mild-hybrid technology. The SE Dynamic model delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the SE P360 offered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft. A plug-in hybrid option was available in the Autobiography P440e, providing 434 hp and an estimated 51 miles of electric range. The Range Rover Sport's performance was impressive, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds and a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The SUV's adaptive damping air suspension and advanced driving modes contributed to a comfortable and composed ride, although it didn't match the agility of some sport-tuned competitors. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled, with features like Terrain Response and a wading depth of 35.4 inches.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with its large doors and low step-in height. The interior featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Passport's cabin was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. The SUV provided generous storage options, including a large center console and various compartments. Cargo space was also impressive, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the brand's Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel. The air suspension could lower for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard seatback panels. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport included thoughtful storage solutions, but some compartments were less practical.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added navigation, while the Elite trim offered a 10-speaker premium sound system and WiFi hotspot. The system was functional but not particularly advanced, and the navigation system was clunky compared to smartphone integration. Wireless smartphone charging was a welcome feature, but overall, the Passport's tech offerings were basic.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and connected services. However, the Pivi Pro system was often confusing and frustrating to use, with a digital assistant that struggled with basic commands. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and an Active Noise Cancellation system, enhancing the driving experience. Wireless smartphone charging was available, but accessing the charging pad could be cumbersome.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some of these systems were less refined, with lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist being particularly intrusive. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, although it fell short in some areas.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also offered a surround-view camera system and Wade Sensing for off-road water crossings. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were not as smooth as expected, and the steering assist struggled with inconsistent lane markings. Despite these issues, the Range Rover Sport provided a comprehensive suite of safety features.