2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern with a facelift in 2018, still showed its age. The subtle updates to the headlights and grille were overshadowed by its large, imposing silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's design was reminiscent of the mid-2000s, with a massive, multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that appeared small against the expansive dashboard. The front seats, although bulky, did not offer much headroom for taller drivers, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats provided ample headroom and legroom, ensuring comfort for passengers. The Sequoia offered a range of trims, from the entry-level SR5 to the off-road-focused TRD Pro and the luxurious Platinum, each with its own set of features and options.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, offering two rows of seats instead of three. The styling similarities extended to the interior, where the Passport shared the Pilot's dash layout, including the unconventional "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials. The trim levels ranged from the entry-level Sport to the top-tier Elite, each adding more features such as leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and advanced technology. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with a deep center console, open cargo tray, and ample storage space in the door pockets.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through a six-speed automatic transmission, available in either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with a low range. The Sequoia's acceleration was strong, even for an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. However, the six-speed transmission, while providing a sense of power, was less efficient in terms of fuel economy compared to modern transmissions with more gears. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were akin to a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes, though it exhibited some body roll in corners. When properly equipped, it could tow up to 7,400 pounds, which was less than some of its competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2021 Honda Passport, on the other hand, featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. The V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power efficiently. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes for different terrains. The Passport's towing capacity was up to 3,500 pounds for front-wheel drive models and 5,000 pounds for all-wheel drive models, making it suitable for light towing needs.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia's standout feature was its spacious cabin, offering nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats folded, it provided an impressive 120 cubic feet of cargo space. The Sequoia also featured a power-retractable rear window, a convenient feature for accessing items without fully opening the hatch. While the front-row space could have been better utilized, the Sequoia offered deep in-door pockets and a massive center console for storage.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and up to 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console featured a deep bin and open cargo tray. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Despite the dated technology, the system was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small compared to modern digital instrument panels but was easy to use.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard with its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this was a step forward, the system's graphics were dated, and the menu layout was confusing. The volume dial felt like an afterthought, but its inclusion was appreciated given the lack of a tuning dial.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, it lacked more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist. The Sequoia scored four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test but was not rated in other crash tests.

The 2021 Honda Passport came with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.