Honda Passport vs Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured a "reductive" design philosophy that focused on simplification and modern aesthetics. Since its introduction in 2018, the Velar has embodied this ethos, and the 2024 refresh continued to refine this approach. The vehicle presented a new grille, updated headlights and taillights, fresh wheel options, and revised exterior detailing. The new rear bumper emphasized width over height, giving the Velar a broader, more grounded appearance.

Inside, the Velar's redesign included a larger 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that seemed to float above the dashboard, and a new center console that did away with traditional climate and stereo controls, moving everything to the touchscreen interface. This minimalist approach had its downsides—functions like adjusting the climate or stereo volume now required navigating through the touchscreen, which some found cumbersome. However, the interior maintained an upscale ambiance, evident in options like Kvadrat wool blend upholstery for those preferring a vegan interior and the Cabin Air Purification Plus system with PM 2.5 filtration.

Our test vehicle, sporting the Dynamic SE trim, showcased several premium touches, including a robust turbocharged six-cylinder engine, sophisticated exterior and interior packs, and a total MSRP of $80,533.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Honda Passport maintained a familiar design, closely aligned with Honda’s earlier models. While Honda updated the Civic and Accord to reflect a new design language, the 2024 Passport stayed true to its roots, with only minor tweaks since 2022. It retained a boxier shape featuring a more upright grille and squared-off corners but didn’t look vastly different from previous iterations.

Available in three trims—EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition—the Passport made leather seats, a power moonroof, uniform touchscreens, and AWD standard across the lineup. The TrailSport trim, marketed as the rugged variant, featured all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights, enhancing its adventurous appearance. Despite looking the part, components like faux skid plates, the absence of recovery points, and a lack of a lift kit revealed it to be more for show than true off-road robustness.

The Passport's interior, characterized by old-school physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen, prioritized utility and simplicity. The TrailSport’s cabin featured black leather with orange stitching and a straightforward design incorporating functional but modest materials.

The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar test model featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, delivering a robust 394 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Models with this engine were labeled P400, while those with the less potent 247-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four were designated P250. The six-cylinder engine enhanced the driving experience significantly, achieving 60 mph almost two seconds faster than the base model. The EPA rated the P400 engine at 21 mpg combined, a slight decrease from the P250’s 23 mpg, with real-world tests averaging 19.5 mpg.

The Velar’s performance excelled in multiple scenarios. It offered a range of driving modes through its Terrain Response system, including Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, and several off-road settings. On mountain roads in California, the Dynamic mode highlighted its nimble and athletic nature, making it enjoyable on curvier paths. Conversely, Comfort mode provided a quieter, more relaxing highway drive but felt somewhat sluggish in urban environments.

The Velar boasted 8.4 inches of ground clearance, extendable to 9.9 inches with an optional air suspension, and could wade through water up to 22.8 inches deep, although off-roading wasn't tested due to restrictions. Despite noticeable body movements during urban driving, the overall experience remained largely positive.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport relied on a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, it offered smooth and unobtrusive shifting. Though it lacked the turbocharging more common in current vehicles, it provided adequate acceleration for its size, while peak torque at 4,700 RPM required higher revs for rapid starts. Fuel economy was competitive at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

The TrailSport trim featured off-road enhancements like wider front and rear tracks, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a suspension tuned for better articulation. It included Honda’s iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with settings for various terrains.

On the highway, the Passport exhibited more road and wind noise due to its size and tires, yet it calmed significantly at lower speeds. Steering was well-balanced and precise, contributing to an enjoyable driving experience. Its towing capacity of 5,000 pounds was respectable compared to rivals like the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Hyundai Santa Fe but fell short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Approaching the Velar, flush-mounted door handles emerged automatically, although their sharp corners posed a hazard. The front seats were newly cushioned and supportive for 2024, although entry was slightly challenging for taller individuals due to tight door openings. The test model featured 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, and additional features from the Cold Climate Pack, such as ventilated front seats and a heated windshield, enhanced comfort.

Inside, despite superior wood veneers, certain materials, like cheap plastics on lower door panels, detracted from overall quality. The back seat was comfortable for two adults, aided by a panoramic sunroof extending overhead, though window sunshades were notably absent. Storage space was adequate but not exceptional, and items placed in door bins tended to rattle during drives. The cargo area offered 30.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 62.7 cubic feet with folded rear seats.

Contrastingly, the Honda Passport offered tremendous cargo capacity, leading its class with 41.2 cubic feet behind rear seats and expanding to 77.7 cubic feet when rear seats were folded flat. This beat competitors like the Subaru Outback and Jeep Grand Cherokee, making it a practical choice for those needing significant load space.

The Passport provided comfortable seating for five, with ample cupholders and adequate legroom in the rear. The redesigned center console bin for 2024 added depth and storage, though it made the front cabin feel less spacious. Nonetheless, the Passport excelled in providing a utilitarian yet comfortable environment for both passengers and cargo.

The 2024 Velar’s tech centerpiece was the upgraded Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring an 11.4-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a refreshed user interface. While it was aesthetically pleasing, it presented functionality challenges, particularly with removing physical controls for climate, volume, and defrosting in favor of touchscreen commands—a move many found less intuitive. Shortcut icons were small and difficult to tap while driving, contributing to driver distraction. Despite the advanced options like a 12.3-inch digital panel and head-up display, execution flaws hindered the overall tech experience.

In contrast, the Honda Passport’s infotainment was simpler. It came with an 8-inch display standard across all trims, which while smaller than many competitors, maintained high resolution and quick responsiveness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. However, navigation and audio functions posed irritations, such as turn-by-turn directions occupying the driver’s display excessively.

The upgraded 10-speaker audio on higher trims proved superior to the standard seven-speaker system, which lacked richness. While generally user-friendly, the Passport’s infotainment system doesn’t keep pace with vehicles offering larger, more advanced displays.

The 2024 Velar boasted an extensive array of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Key features included adaptive cruise control, speed-limited functions, and adaptive cruise control with Steer Assist. While adaptive cruise control performed smoothly, Steer Assist fell short, often misjudging curves and reacting unpredictably to changes in road conditions. Despite its impressive ADAS roster, some systems added stress rather than alleviated it.

On the other hand, the 2024 Honda Passport excelled in safety technology, bundling forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control into its standard Honda Sensing suite. While crash test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA revealed some vulnerabilities, the comprehensive safety features provided comfort, especially important for families.