2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe maintained the classic Wrangler aesthetic, with its rugged exterior features like the exterior-mounted spare tire, removable doors, rounded headlights, and the iconic seven-slot grille. The only noticeable differences indicating its plug-in hybrid nature were the blue decals, specific badging, and the charger port on the driver's side front quarter panel. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe offered a mix of Dark Saddle brown leather seats and black leather inserts, with a prominent front passenger grab handle. However, the interior was dominated by black plastic, a typical feature for a Wrangler. The vehicle's interior quality varied across its three available grades, with leather-faced seats and heated options available at higher price points, though ventilated seats were notably absent.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, resulting in a familiar design that mirrored the Ridgeline from the doors forward. The Passport's new styling aimed to give it a tougher look, especially in the TrailSport trim, which was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. This trim featured unique 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, and simulated skid plates, enhancing its SUV appearance. Inside, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with quality materials and thoughtful design elements like orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting in the TrailSport trim. The Passport's interior was praised for its comfort and ample storage, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total system output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This power was managed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Wrangler 4xe was trail-rated, featuring a Selec-trac or Rock-trac transfer case, solid axles, and a fully articulating suspension, providing up to 27.4 cm of ground clearance and 76 cm of water fording capability. The plug-in hybrid system offered an electric-only range of 35 kilometres, with modes to optimize battery use and regenerative braking for near one-pedal driving. While the Wrangler 4xe provided a burst of energy from a stop, it wasn't the quietest or best-handling vehicle for everyday driving.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The V6 was smooth and responsive, with a combined fuel efficiency rating of 11.3 L/100 km. The Passport's AWD system, i-VTM4, offered mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport excelled on roads with its firm ride and athletic handling, its off-road capabilities were limited by wheel articulation. The Passport's brakes, however, were a concern, as they could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, affecting driver confidence.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was designed to accommodate its battery pack under the rear seats, minimizing space loss for second-row occupants and maintaining off-road capabilities. The Sahara grades offered 1,023 mm of headroom and 970 mm of legroom, while the Rubicon's soft-top provided more headroom. Cargo space was slightly reduced compared to other Wrangler models, with 784 litres available with the seats up and 1,908 litres with them folded. The Wrangler's width of 1,875 mm made it manageable in urban settings, and the optional power-retracting roof added convenience for open-air driving. However, quirks like the centre stack window controls remained a "Jeep thing."

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The interior featured comfortable seats with adjustable armrests, leather upholstery, and heated options. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport's spacious second row provided ample room and a slightly elevated seating position, with large windows enhancing the airy feel. Storage was abundant, with a massive centre console and various compartments. The Passport's cargo space was generous, offering 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the seats folded, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured the Uconnect 4C system with navigation on an 8.4-inch touchscreen, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system was intuitive, with hard buttons and dials for essential functions. The Wrangler included off-road pages and Hybrid Electric Pages for efficiency settings. However, the instrument cluster was not fully digital, and the vehicle lacked wireless phone charging, which was surprising for its price point.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system met basic modern standards with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Satellite radio was available on the TrailSport trim, while the Touring trim added navigation, a premium audio system, and HondaLink services. The system included shortcut buttons and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, leading users to prefer Apple CarPlay. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base trim, but the Passport was not technologically advanced, which might appeal to some users.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe shared its structure with other Wranglers, receiving a Good rating in most IIHS crash tests but a Marginal rating in the driver's side small overlap front test due to tipping. Rear passenger head protection was also rated Marginal. The NHTSA rated the Wrangler four stars for front crash tests and three stars for rollover resistance. Safety features were limited, with blind spot monitoring and rear park assist standard only on the Unlimited Sahara High Altitude. The Advanced Safety Group offered additional features like adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Honda Passport included the Honda Sensing suite, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist were intrusive, leading drivers to disable them. The adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic, and the blind-spot monitoring light was poorly positioned. The Passport received five-star NHTSA ratings in most tests but four stars for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating in front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.