2022 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a striking resemblance with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to both vehicles sharing a platform with the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and featured a more rugged design. Honda's updated styling aimed to give the Passport a tougher look, which was applied across all three trim levels: Sport, TrailSport, and Touring. The TrailSport trim, in particular, was designed to appeal to those interested in off-road adventures, although it was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability. 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 2022 Toyota Venza, reintroduced for the 2021 model year, was built on the TGNA-K platform, shared with several other Toyota and Lexus models. It featured a sleek, modern design with excellent proportions, reminiscent of a Lexus vehicle. The Venza's exterior was highlighted by a deeply scalloped body side and a distinctive tailgate with LED lighting. Inside, the Venza offered a luxurious, Lexus-like interior with high-quality materials and a well-thought-out layout. The cabin was spacious, with supportive front seats and ample room for rear passengers. The Venza's design was more suited for urban environments than rugged terrains, emphasizing comfort and style over off-road capability.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The V6 engine was smooth and powerful, providing satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. The Passport's AWD system, Honda's 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 was more capable off-road than expected, it excelled on paved roads, offering athletic handling and a comfortable ride. However, the brakes could become less confidence-inspiring on mountain descents, and the lack of a surround-view camera was noted during tight parking situations.

The 2022 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine combined with three electric motors, producing a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid system balanced electric and gas power for optimal efficiency, with the rear electric motors providing AWD capability. The Venza offered a smooth and agile driving experience, with drive modes to suit different preferences. Regenerative braking helped recharge the battery, and the Venza's hybrid system required no special attention from the driver. The Venza was not designed for aggressive cornering but delivered a comfortable and efficient ride, ideal for family travel.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The interior featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport's spacious interior provided ample room for passengers and generous cargo space, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seats and up to 2,854 litres with the seats folded. The SUV's utility and comfort made it a practical choice for families and road trips.

The 2022 Toyota Venza accommodated five passengers with two front bucket seats and a 60/40-split folding rear bench. The cabin offered good headroom and legroom, with a spacious feel enhanced by the available Star Gaze panoramic sunroof. The Venza's interior featured numerous convenience features, including an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, electric parking brake, and ample storage options. The Venza's cargo capacity was 816 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,560 litres with the seats folded. Toyota focused on creating a quiet and serene cabin, using sound-blocking materials throughout the vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The TrailSport trim added satellite radio, while the Touring trim featured a navigation system, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HondaLink connected services. The system was functional but not particularly advanced, with some users preferring to use Apple CarPlay for navigation. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base Sport trim.

The 2022 Toyota Venza offered a comprehensive infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, AM/FM/HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with multiple USB ports for connectivity. The XLE and Limited trims added features like a heated steering wheel, SofTex upholstery, a nine-speaker JBL audio system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim also included a head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, and a digital rearview mirror. Toyota Connected Services provided additional safety and convenience features.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. While comprehensive, some features like lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist were less refined, leading drivers to disable them. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2022 Toyota Venza featured the Toyota Star Safety System, including stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. It also had eight airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. The Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, indicating a high level of safety.