2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, shared its underpinnings with the Jeep Compass but drew design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh in 2019, and for 2021, those design changes continued, with some previously optional features becoming standard. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin design with an upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, putting controls within easy reach. The Renegade offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with unique features and equipment.

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. The styling similarities between the Passport and Pilot were evident both inside and out, including Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. Despite this, the Passport had a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. Trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport featured 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, a seven-speaker audio system, and a one-touch fold-down rear bench. Higher trims added features like leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, and advanced audio and navigation systems.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, though slightly less powerful at 177 hp, delivered an impressive 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better refinement and torque, making it a more appealing choice. Despite some transmission issues, the Renegade offered a solid ride quality, good cornering stability, and impressive maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and off-road suspension, was particularly capable off-road.

The 2021 Honda Passport featured a standard 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 standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport’s ride quality balanced comfort and handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and up to 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These specs were above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Renegade’s tall, boxy design offered ample headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space for adults in the rear. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies, trays, and optional equipment tie-downs. The front passenger seat could fold completely forward, creating a table for gear or additional space for long items.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage was also available. The EX-L trim included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility and a commanding view of the road. The center console had a deep center bin and an open cargo tray below the shifter and cupholders. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for water bottles and other items, with the rear seats offering ample headroom and legroom, and the ability to recline and slide.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on some mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock at the bottom of the screen with icons for major functions. Both screens also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. A Kenwood premium audio system was available as an option.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required moving up to at least the EX trim to get CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite these features, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. The audio interface also lacked a tuning dial.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard across the lineup, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. The only exception was the Trailhawk trim, which did not include emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. Despite these features, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Renegade only four out of five stars in crash tests. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control that could stop and go with the flow of traffic. Buyers could opt for additional driver assistance features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Passport top "Good" scores in most crash tests, an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test, and "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use. The Passport also received a second-tier "Advanced" rating for front crash prevention tech.