2023 Mazda CX-50 vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport bore a striking resemblance to the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the front doors forward. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seating, and featured distinct styling. Honda's design updates aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance, particularly with the new TrailSport trim, which was intended to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. However, the TrailSport was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability, despite its 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and traction management driving modes. The Passport's interior was spacious, with quality materials and thoughtful assembly, and the TrailSport trim added unique design elements like orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 showcased a blend of elegance and ruggedness with its blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield. The CX-50's design included bold fender swells, lower body cladding, and faux skid plates, giving it a robust appearance. The standard black grille and mirror caps, along with available 20-inch alloy wheels, contributed to its appealing exterior. The CX-50 Meridian Edition added exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, and a roof-mounted load platform. Inside, the CX-50 featured a driver-focused design with quality materials, polished metallic trim, and a mix of analog and digital gauges. The interior was stylish, with black leather and caramel-coloured accent stitching, although some storage opportunities were missed. The CX-50's interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, and a spacious back seat.

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 felt more powerful than its ratings suggested, delivering satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. The Passport's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) system provided mechanical torque vectoring, distributing up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport excelled on paved roads, its off-road capabilities were limited, with wheel articulation being a concern. The SUV's brakes, however, could heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, which was a drawback considering its 2,268-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options: a 187-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged version producing up to 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine provided smooth acceleration and a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. The CX-50's Mi-Drive system offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, working with G-Vectoring Control technology to ensure natural vehicle behaviour. The CX-50's ride quality was slightly firmer than the CX-5, and it exhibited some torque steer during acceleration. Despite its higher ride height and 21.8 centimetres of ground clearance, the CX-50 felt more like a sporty wagon than an SUV on the road. The CX-50's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, and it handled towing tasks well, although it could struggle on mountain grades.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The interior featured large, 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 triple-zone automatic climate control system ensured comfort for all passengers, and the rear seating area was spacious and airy. The SUV provided ample storage, including a massive centre console bin and various door panel compartments. Cargo space was generous, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50's interior was equipped for winter with heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone climate control added to the comfort. The front seats were comfortable for long drives, although they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy, with rear air vents and charging ports. Storage space was adequate, but some opportunities for additional storage were missed. The CX-50 offered 889 litres of cargo space, with a long load floor but narrow width between the wheel wells. Maximum cargo space was 1,595 litres, slightly less than the CX-5 due to the CX-50's lower roofline.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Satellite radio was available on the TrailSport trim, while the Touring trim added a navigation system, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HondaLink connected services. The system's interface was simple, with shortcut buttons and a volume knob, but it lacked a tuning knob. The navigation system was clunky, and Apple CarPlay was preferred for ease of use. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base Sport trim.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The system included a 10.25-inch display, but touchscreen control was limited to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface relied on centre console buttons and knobs, which could be distracting. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The CX-50 also offered an Active Driving Display, projecting data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some functions, like lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist, were less refined and could be distracting. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision, which earned four stars. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, although it fell short of the Top Safety Pick+ designation due to some headlight configurations and night-time pedestrian collision avoidance results. The CX-50 included a comprehensive package of driving assistance systems, with features like active blind-spot monitoring, Traffic Jam Assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control system worked well, but it occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead.