2023 Toyota 4Runner 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 appearance, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, in particular, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, although it was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability. The Passport boasted a spacious interior, high-quality materials, and unique design elements in the TrailSport trim, such as orange stitching and amber lighting.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner, particularly the 40th Anniversary Special Edition (40 ASE), was based on the SR5 Premium trim and featured retro body stripes, a heritage grille, and bronze accents. This special edition celebrated the 4Runner's enduring appeal with a nostalgic design reminiscent of the 1970s. The 4Runner's truck-based design gave it a classic SUV stance, and its interior, while filled with plastic, felt solid and functional. The controls were straightforward and easy to use, even with gloves on. The 4Runner's design and features, such as the power-down rear window and spacious interior, made it a practical choice for those who appreciated a traditional SUV experience.

The 2022 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, with the TrailSport and Elite trims featuring Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system. This system provided mechanical torque vectoring, enhancing the Passport's handling on twisty roads. The Passport delivered a firm and communicative ride, with a fuel economy rating of 22 mpg for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. However, its brakes could become less reliable on mountain descents, and the lack of a surround-view camera system was noted during tight parking situations.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner came with a 4.0-liter V6 engine generating 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and two 4WD systems, with the Limited trim featuring a full-time 4WD option. The 4Runner's fuel economy was rated at 17 mpg, with the 40 ASE averaging 16.9 mpg. The 4Runner excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its high ground clearance and various off-roading technologies. However, its on-road performance was less impressive, with leisurely acceleration, heavy steering, and a brake pedal that lacked finesse. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner's rugged design made it well-suited for off-road adventures.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with its large doors and low step-in height. Inside, it featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Passport's interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. It provided generous storage options, including a large center console and various compartments. The cargo area offered 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner's standout feature was its power-down rear window, which, along with the sunroof and windows, provided excellent ventilation. The 4Runner's interior was comfortable, with SofTex artificial leather seats and heated front cushions in the 40 ASE. It offered numerous storage locations, though some lacked rubber liners. The second-row seating was spacious, with good legroom and headroom. The 4Runner also offered a third-row seat option, though it compromised cargo space. Without the third row, the 4Runner provided 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 89.7 cubic feet.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added navigation, while the Elite trim included a premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The system's interface was straightforward, though the navigation system was clunky. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport lacked advanced technological features.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system was praised for its simplicity and functionality. It included an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system used real knobs and buttons, making it easy to operate. Upgrades included a navigation system and a JBL premium sound system. The voice recognition system performed well, though it had limitations with certain commands.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, some features, like lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist, were less refined. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though it had some areas for improvement.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured Toyota Safety Sense, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise control performed smoothly, but the lane-departure warning could be annoying. The 4Runner's crash-test ratings were less favorable, with lower scores for front passenger protection and rollover resistance.