2024 Acura MDX vs 2024 Honda Passport

Acura had truly succeeded in making the MDX visually striking. The large shield grille exuded an air of confidence and was tastefully flanked by dynamic, rakish headlights. Below the grille, a pair of intake vents complemented the modern, refined facade, while the lower bumper area almost bent under the grille for a sleek, contemporary appearance. Inside, the MDX exuded a high-tech vibe, albeit a bit too busy. The center console was cluttered with a plethora of controls which initially could be overwhelming, not to mention the difficulties in using them which we’ll discuss later.

Acura offered the MDX in multiple trims or packages: the base model, Technology Package, A-Spec Package, Advance Package, Type-S, and Type-S Advance. The base model included features like tri-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, synthetic leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. The Technology Package added ambient cabin lighting, navigation, a 12-speaker ELS premium stereo system, and genuine leather upholstery. The A-Spec trim had unique styling, a sportier personality, an upgraded 16-speaker ELS audio system, perforated leather seats, and ventilated front seats, including an in-cabin intercom system that was handy. The Advance Package brought a heated steering wheel, additional USB ports, remote start, and heated second-row seats.

The Type-S trim built on the Technology Package and A-Spec features with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Type-S Advance added a top-notch 26-speaker ELS sound system and splendid massaging front seats. These perforated leather seats offered a firm yet invigorating massage, highly beneficial on lengthy drives.

Honda stayed consistent with the Passport’s design, retaining its look from past iterations with minor tweaks in 2022 such as a more upright grille and squared-off corners. This design approach meant it retained many features from Honda’s previous-generation designs.

The Passport was available in three trims: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all featuring leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). We tested the TrailSport trim, designed to be more rugged with all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights as standard equipment, which weren’t available in the base EX-L trim.

The TrailSport trim's rugged aesthetic was more cosmetic than functional. Faux skid plates were plastic, and it lacked recovery points in the bumpers or a lift kit. Nevertheless, the Passport’s approach and departure angles relative to its size were noteworthy, allowing for competent light off-roading.

Inside, the Passport offered conventional physical controls and a quaint 8-inch touchscreen, sans modern elements like honeycomb-style vents seen in other Honda models. Its utilitarian yet simple design featured black leather upholstery with orange stitching and a subtle “TrailSport” emblem on the front headrests. Although awash in durable plastic materials, the interior had a functional, user-friendly layout with large air vents and plenty of storage.

The Acura MDX’s standard engine was a 3.5-liter V6, producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type-S trim upgraded to a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This power went through a 10-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Driving the 2024 MDX Type-S Advance was delightful thanks to the robust acceleration provided by its turbo engine. It didn’t provide a neck-snapping launch, befitting a luxury SUV, but it offered ample power for stop-and-go traffic, merging onto highways, and overtaking vehicles. Its power delivery was well-managed by the transmission, and the throttle response was quick. Despite its substantial weight of roughly 4,500 pounds, the MDX felt nimble and cushioned over road imperfections.

The Type-S trims included high-performance Brembo brakes and an adaptive air suspension that adjusted the ride height based on driving conditions. The suspension could raise or lower the vehicle depending on the selected drive mode, from Sport to Comfort. The Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) allowed for various drive modes, including Sport+, Snow, Comfort, and Normal, along with a Lift mode for increased ground clearance.

Though the MDX performed exceptionally on highways and city roads with a firm yet smooth ride, its turning radius was surprisingly tight, making it maneuverable in confined spaces. Its towing capacity maxed out at 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, 3,500 pounds for front-wheel-drive models.

Contrary to many modern vehicles transitioning to hybrid or turbocharged engines, the 2024 Honda Passport retained a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine. Producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, this engine matched or surpassed many of its direct competitors. A nine-speed automatic transmission managed power delivery smoothly and efficiently, although peak torque came at 4,700 RPM, demanding higher revs for quick acceleration compared to turbocharged models.

Fuel economy ratings for the Passport were 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. The TrailSport trim boasted slightly wider front and rear tracks, 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and suspension tuned for better off-road performance, offering more articulation.

All Passports came standard with Honda’s iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud settings. These systems enhanced the vehicle's all-weather and off-road capabilities.

Highway driving revealed some elevated road and wind noise, likely due to the all-terrain tires, but the cabin remained much quieter during city driving. The steering was impressively balanced and accurate with minimal play, which isn’t always the case in vehicles of this size. Towing capacity was capped at 5,000 pounds, outperforming competitors like the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Hyundai Santa Fe, though falling short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 6,200-pound capacity.

The MDX offered three rows of seating, ideal for families, though the third row was tighter and more suitable for children. It provided 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which expanded to 39.1 cubic feet with the rear seats down, and maxed out at 71.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. An additional storage compartment under the cargo floor added practicality. The MDX came with a power liftgate as standard, with a hands-free version available on Advance Package models.

Our test vehicle’s second-row bench featured a fold-down center console with integrated cupholders, adding a level of comfort akin to captain’s chairs. However, no captain’s chair option was available. The cabin had abundant cupholders and a spacious center console, but the center stack of controls was cluttered. The shifter buttons and the large IDS dial in the center could be confusing and weren't the best use of space for frequent driving activities.

The Passport was the cargo capacity leader in the two-row midsize crossover segment, offering 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which expanded to a generous 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Additional underfloor storage further increased its practicality. The Passport provided ample space for five adults, though rear-seat legroom was slightly tighter than in some competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The front interior featured a notable change for 2024 with a redesigned center console bin that was taller and deeper, sacrificing a bit of the open feeling but offering enhanced storage. Cupholder positions were adjusted to create more room for a larger cubby below the dashboard.

The Achilles heel of the MDX was its awkward infotainment system. The 12.3-inch display, not a touchscreen, required use of a touchpad below the shifter—which was cumbersome and unintuitive. Despite the fiddly interface, the MDX offered a lot of tech: wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, satellite radio, HD radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, multiple USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging. Notably, the charging ports were cleverly hidden behind a pad in the center console.

For future models, Acura could learn from the more intuitive systems in vehicles like the new Integra. The current touchscreen setup frustrated drivers and detracted from the overall luxury experience, cratering its competitiveness against rivals like the Genesis GV80.

The Passport’s technology was a mixed bag. It offered only an 8-inch display, which felt small for the cabin size and limited compared to competitors, some offering over 10-inch screens. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a wireless charging pad. The display possessed sharp resolution and quick response times, but the overall system was lacking.

In more dynamic driving conditions like city navigation, the persistent turn-by-turn directions in the driver’s information display often obstructed the driver’s preferred screen view, a notable irritant. Furthermore, our TrailSport test vehicle’s seven-speaker audio system fell short of expectations, appealing less to audiophiles compared to the options like the Grand Cherokee’s McIntosh system or Honda Pilot’s Bose system.

The MDX came loaded with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features: automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-departure warning, driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Technology Package added front and rear parking sensors, reverse automatic emergency braking, and rain-sensing windshield wipers, while the Advance package added a 360-degree parking camera system and a head-up display.

The 2024 MDX had not yet been tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS, but the 2022 model on which it was based earned top marks, including a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, with crash prevention technology achieving high scores. However, the problematic infotainment system required drivers to divert their attention from the road, creating potential safety lapses.

The Passport came standard with a strong set of active safety features: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control—bundled under the Honda Sensing suite. These features provided reassurance to families and drivers concerned with safety.

Despite these features, the Passport’s crash-test performance was less commendable. The IIHS rated it as “Acceptable” for passenger-side small overlap crashes and “Marginal” for side-impact crashes, preventing it from earning a Top Safety Pick designation. However, the NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, although it received four out of five stars in frontal and rollover tests.