Honda Passport vs Toyota Grand Highlander

Toyota's 2024 lineup offered consumers a variety of crossover and SUV options, from the compact Corolla Cross to the hefty Sequoia. The Grand Highlander, nestled between the Highlander and the Sequoia, was based on the TNGA-K platform. This platform was shared with multiple other Toyota models, such as the RAV4 and Camry, distinguishing the Grand Highlander as a true crossover rather than a full-body-on-frame SUV. Despite its substantial size and 5,000-pound towing capacity, the Grand Highlander was not built for hardcore off-roading.

The vehicle measured 201.4 inches in length and had a wheelbase of 116.1 inches, making it larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride. With 8 inches of ground clearance, this three-row crossover was designed more for the tarmac, yet its design took cues from rugged vehicles. The Grand Highlander’s styling was a bit more blocky compared to the Highlander and drew some similarities with the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The trapezoidal grille, flanked by narrow headlights, was reminiscent of the 4Runner.

The Grand Highlander was offered in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, all featuring Softex synthetic leather in the XLE and real leather for higher trims. The Platinum trim could even be equipped with Portobello (brown) upholstery. Inside, the vehicle boasted a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats, with ventilation and a heated steering wheel available in higher trims. The second-row sunshades and a removable center console made for a family-friendly interior, enhanced by easy third-row access.

By contrast, Honda had rolled out its updated design language across models like the Civic and Accord, but the 2024 Passport retained much of its previous-generation look. Even with some tweaks in 2022, including a more upright grille, the Passport's rugged exterior remained largely unchanged. Offered in three trims – EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition – the Passport kept things simple with leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and AWD standard in each trim.

The TrailSport trim, billed as the most rugged variant, was equipped with genuine all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights. However, many of its rugged features were more aesthetic than functional, such as plastic faux skid plates instead of metal ones. Despite lacking a lift kit, the Passport had impressive approach and departure angles, making it more capable than some competitors but without serious off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Passport featured old-school physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport’s black leather interior with orange stitching and “TrailSport” emblems brought some visual flair, but overall, the cabin design was simple and utilitarian. Ample storage spaces and a redesigned center console in the front seat area provided practicality for daily use.

The 2024 Grand Highlander came with three engine options. The base was a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine offered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier choice, the Hybrid Max powertrain, provided a potent 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. While the base and hybrid engines had both FWD and AWD options, the Hybrid Max came exclusively with AWD.

Toyota projected that the standard turbo gas engine would account for 85% of sales, and it delivered adequate acceleration and performance. However, the Grand Highlander felt its size on the road, making tight navigation and parking more challenging. The steering lacked feedback, feeling somewhat disconnected, though the braking performance was solid and linear.

Drive modes on the Grand Highlander included Sport, Eco, and Normal, with AWD models gaining additional settings like Mud & Sand and Rock & Dirt. Although Sport mode marginally improved steering and throttle response, Normal mode seemed optimal for most driving conditions.

Honda took a different route with the Passport’s powertrain. The 2024 model featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered robust acceleration and smooth gear shifts. Despite the lack of turbochargers, the engine performed well but required higher RPMs for peak torque compared to turbocharged competitors. Fuel economy was decent but not outstanding, with EPA ratings of 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

The TrailSport trim brought minor mechanical adjustments, such as slightly wider front and rear tracks and suspension tuned for off-roading. All Passports came with Honda’s iVTM4 torque-vectoring AWD system and a traction-management system with various modes for different terrains.

Despite some elevated road and wind noise at highway speeds, the Passport’s steering was remarkably balanced and accurate. Towing capacity was respectable at 5,000 pounds, comparing favorably with peers like the Hyundai Santa Fe but falling short of heavy-duty options like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Grand Highlander impressed with its spaciousness, being larger than most rivals, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride. It boasted a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet, significantly more than the Telluride. Even with the third row in use, it offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space, and 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row. With a roomy interior, it comfortably accommodated passengers in all three rows, making it a strong contender for large families.

While the Passport only had two rows of seats, it excelled in cargo space for a midsize crossover. With 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and fold-flat 60/40-split rear seats expanding the area to 77.7 cubic feet, the Passport stood as one of the top choices in its segment. The additional underfloor storage added practicality, especially for active lifestyles. The cabin comfortably seated five adults, offering ample legroom and a redesigned center console for increased storage.

Every Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While visually appealing, many features required a connected-services subscription. The intelligent assistant, activated by “Hey Toyota,” cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance were part of this package. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 11-speaker JBL stereo available on higher trims provided a balanced audio experience. However, buyers needed to be mindful of the various subscription options.

The Passport, on the other hand, came with an 8-inch display across all trims. Despite being responsive with sharp resolution, its size felt insufficient for the vehicle's cabin dimensions. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. However, the navigation system’s frequent screen reversion to turn-by-turn directions proved annoying, and the standard seven-speaker audio system on the TrailSport trim was less impressive than what other rivals offered in terms of sound quality.

Being a new model, the Grand Highlander hadn't yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS. However, its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) suite included advanced features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings further enhanced its safety profile.

The Passport included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control as standard features. Despite these comprehensive safety features, its crash test ratings were not top-notch. The IIHS rated it “Acceptable” for passenger-side small overlap crash tests and “Marginal” for side-impact tests, while NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but four stars in frontal and rollover tests.