2022 Honda Passport vs 2023 Lexus GX

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 Pilot without a third-row seat and with different styling. Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, although it was more about looks than actual capability. The Passport TrailSport featured standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for snowy, muddy, and sandy conditions. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport trim adding unique 18-inch wheels, a roof rack, and other design modifications.

Inside, the Passport boasted one of the largest interiors in the two-row midsize SUV segment. The interior materials reflected quality, and the Passport was assembled with care. The TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, embroidered emblems on the front seat headrests, and rubber all-season floor mats. The Passport's interior was spacious and comfortable, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding visual presence with its huge spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a total height of 74.2 inches. The front end looked ready to conquer the road, framed by massive headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors: Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's dimensions seemed to shrink when viewed from the side, with a short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs at the front and rear bumpers. The GX's design leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky designs, making it easier to place in technical driving situations.

Inside, the GX's interior featured a disappointing amount of plastic material, which detracted from its luxury status. However, it still offered plenty of luxury touches, such as heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's low sales volume meant that Lexus needed to keep manufacturing costs low, resulting in a less refined interior. Despite this, the GX remained a capable off-road vehicle with a design that prioritized functionality over luxury.

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 V6 engine providing smooth and strong performance. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. The TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg over various driving conditions. The Passport's AWD system, known as i-VTM4, featured mechanical torque vectoring and could deliver up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when necessary. The Passport excelled on streets, roads, and freeways, offering satisfying acceleration, a firm ride, and athletic handling. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern given the Passport's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 engine provided a satisfying linear power delivery, it lagged behind more modern engines in terms of performance and fuel economy. The GX had a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds but struggled with fuel efficiency, achieving an EPA rating of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight made it prone to rolling through corners, but its predictable and controllable handling made it manageable. The brakes were strong and solid, capable of handling the GX's weight. The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, distributing power in a 40:60 front-to-rear split, and could adjust based on wheel slip, making it user-friendly in various driving conditions.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit with its large doors and low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, 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 rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, headroom, and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows providing an open and airy feel. The Passport had plenty of storage options, including a massive center console storage bin, front door panel shelving, and rear door panel cupholders. The 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 2023 Lexus GX offered plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter, and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX retained physical controls with hard buttons, which were a blessing for those who preferred them over touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms to adjust the armrest for different-sized occupants. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and fold-out cupholders, while the third row was too tight for regular use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

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, including a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for the Home menu, a Back button, a screen brightness button, and a stereo volume and power knob. However, the navigation system was clunky, and the Passport's technology was not particularly advanced.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment system featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote, a remote-start feature, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, a two-speed transfer case, low range, and a locking center differential. The Off-Road Package added a multi-terrain monitor, transmission cooler, fuel-tank protection, crawl control, and a multi-terrain select system.

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. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Passport top ratings in most respects but rated it as Acceptable for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were up-to-date, providing a good level of protection for its occupants.