2023 Volkswagen ID.4 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 distinct 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 aesthetics 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.

VW made subtle styling changes to the 2023 ID.4, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design to improve aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lit up. While the ID.4 was easily distinguishable as an EV, it lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers.

The ID.4 was based on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, and shared modularity with various models. The interior maintained a minimalist design and quality feel, even in the base ID.4 Standard model. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard for 2023, and the interior changes improved functionality, such as a conventional lid for the center console and a better phone spot.

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 SUV offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine was smooth and felt stronger than its ratings suggested, with the EPA rating the Passport at 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. The TrailSport model averaged 21.3 mpg in various driving conditions.

The Passport's AWD system, i-VTM4, featured mechanical torque vectoring and could deliver up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport was more capable off-road than expected, it excelled on streets and highways, offering satisfying acceleration, a firm ride, and athletic handling. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, which was a concern given the SUV's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 introduced a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models offered 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The ID.4 with AWD had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks but lacked the handling finesse. The regenerative braking system allowed for coasting in its default setting, with a more aggressive "B" setting stopping short of one-pedal driving. The ID.4 was comfortable and refined but allowed too much body roll on twisty roads.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit with large doors and a low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated front seats 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 enhancing the open feel.

The Passport provided plenty of storage, including a massive center console storage bin, front door panel shelving, and rear door panel cupholders. 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 SUV's simple utility and comfort made it easy to live with.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front and rear legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. Cargo space was 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it more practical than most entry-level EVs. The ID.4 also had a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models.

VW made small interior changes for 2023, such as a conventional lid for the center console and a better phone spot. Three-zone climate control was now available, with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

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 and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. Apple CarPlay was preferred over the clunky navigation system, and wireless smartphone charging was standard.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 made the 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, with software updates improving responsiveness. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system offered sharp graphics, natural-language voice recognition, and a choice of smartphone-like icons or a traditional split-screen view.

The ID.4's user interface included haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which lacked physical feedback and could be distracting. However, voice recognition made these controls mostly redundant. The ID.Light feature provided ambient lighting and AI assistance, indicating navigation directions and changing colors based on drive mode.

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 had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, 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 NHTSA in most categories, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS' highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top scores in all crash tests, a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention in daylight. The standard headlights received an "Average" score, while the Pro S model's headlights received a "Good" score.

The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0 with adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering. Emergency Assist 3.0 and Park Assist Plus automated parking were also standard, along with a 360-degree camera system.