2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous-generation design, despite Honda's recent updates to other models. It featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners, but overall, it maintained a familiar look. The Passport offered three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all equipped with leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim, designed for ruggedness, included all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights. However, its rugged appearance was more aesthetic than functional, with plastic skid plates and no recovery points. Inside, the Passport had a simple, utilitarian design with physical controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and black leather upholstery with orange accents.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, particularly the 110 four-door model, struck a balance in design, offering a rugged and customizable appearance. Base prices ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. The Defender 130 X test vehicle featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. It swapped standard 22-inch wheels for 20s with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. The interior boasted premium Windsor hides, Kvadrat fabric, and illuminated door-sill treadplates. The Defender's industrial-themed cabin used quality materials, providing a purposeful look rather than a traditional luxury feel.

The 2024 Honda Passport was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivered adequate acceleration and smooth gear shifts. The Passport's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The TrailSport trim featured wider tracks, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a suspension tuned for off-road driving. All Passports came with Honda's torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with various settings. The Passport's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission connected to a standard AWD system with a low-range setting. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. It featured an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. The Defender excelled off-road, with 11.4 inches of ground clearance and impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles. On-road, it provided a comfortable ride but was less agile on twisty roads.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned center console for increased storage. The Passport's interior was simple yet functional, with a focus on utility.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 provided three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats and effective ventilation. Visibility was excellent, aided by a Clearsight digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system. The Defender's interior felt open and airy, with a panoramic sunroof and ample storage space. However, cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. While the screen offered sharp resolution, its size felt small for the cabin. The infotainment system had some quirks, such as persistent turn-by-turn directions on the driver's display. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was adequate but not exceptional.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system's response and accuracy had improved, offering a more intuitive user experience. The Defender also included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The Meridian premium sound system provided impressive audio quality.

The 2024 Honda Passport included a comprehensive suite of safety features under the "Honda Sensing" umbrella, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it received mixed crash-test ratings, with an "Acceptable" rating from the IIHS and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a range of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The system operated smoothly, with minor issues in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.