2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2020 Honda Passport was a testament to Honda's consistent design philosophy, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic that resonated with loyal Honda customers. Its exterior was a blend of ruggedness and athleticism, positioned between the Honda Pilot and CR-V in terms of size and capability. The Passport's design included a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, which contributed to its robust appearance. Inside, the Passport Elite trim featured a sophisticated cabin with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, perforated leather seats, and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, providing a comfortable and practical environment for passengers.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser exuded a sense of luxury and nostalgia, especially in its Heritage Edition trim. The exterior, with its Midnight Black paint and bronze BBS wheels, paid homage to the SUV's storied past. However, the standard model, with its Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery, offered a more subdued appearance. Inside, the Land Cruiser's interior was a mix of high-quality materials and dated design elements, such as a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player. Despite its plush leather seats and four-zone climate control, the Land Cruiser's interior felt like a step back in time, lacking the modern flair found in newer SUVs.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport delivered smooth performance across various driving conditions. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, while AWD models managed 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The Passport's torque-vectoring AWD system provided a stable and confident driving experience, especially on challenging terrains, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds, surpassing many of its competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, equipped with a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, offered a powerful yet quiet ride. Its eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system, featuring a Torsen limited-slip differential, ensured excellent off-road capability. Despite its impressive power, the Land Cruiser's fuel economy was a mere 14 mpg combined. The SUV's advanced off-road features, such as Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, made it a formidable off-roader, capable of handling the toughest terrains with ease. With a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, the Land Cruiser was well-suited for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical choice, offering ample interior space and comfort for passengers. Its size allowed for good visibility and spacious seating for four adults, with no third-row option. The Passport excelled in cargo space, providing 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, such as a large center console and secondary shelf space, making it ideal for road trips.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious yet dated, with plush leather seats and a commanding view of the road. The SUV offered a three-passenger third-row seat, expanding its seating capacity, but the cargo space was limited to 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the seats increased the cargo volume to 82.8 cubic feet. The Land Cruiser's split clamshell-style liftgate provided convenient access to the cargo area, and its robust build made it suitable for outdoor adventures.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a practical infotainment system, with higher trims offering an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The system was user-friendly, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, while higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was reminiscent of a simpler era, with a 9-inch touchscreen that required tapping rather than swiping. The system lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and its voice-recognition capabilities were limited. The SUV featured a 14-speaker JBL audio system and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, but these elements felt outdated compared to modern offerings.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, with its 10 airbags and substantial curb weight, provided a sense of security. However, it lacked crash-test ratings. Standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) systems included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Land Cruiser also featured blind-spot monitoring and Safety Connect services, but it did not offer more advanced driver-assist technologies.