2023 Toyota Sequoia 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 the shared vehicle platform that Honda also used for the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat, and with distinct styling. Honda's design updates aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance, particularly with the new nose design. The TrailSport trim, introduced in 2022, was part of Honda's strategy to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, although it was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability. 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 Toyota Sequoia boasted a bold design that combined the aggressive look of the Toyota Tundra with a newly styled SUV body. The Sequoia's design was more imposing than its predecessor, with a traditional grille and front bumper that differentiated it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" appearance. Inside, the Sequoia shared many elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with upscale materials in the Capstone trim. The Capstone's interior was luxurious, with a massive 14-inch infotainment system and a two-tone color scheme. However, some materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, from the base SR5 to the luxurious Capstone, with prices reflecting the range of features and capabilities.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 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. The V6 engine was smooth and felt more powerful than its ratings suggested, providing satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. The Passport's AWD system, known as i-VTM4, featured mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% 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, though effective, could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, affecting confidence.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and an electric motor/generator. This setup delivered 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving towing and payload capacities compared to the previous model. The Sequoia's fuel efficiency also improved, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling characteristics based on the selected mode. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. Inside, it featured spacious and comfortable seating with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Passport Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows enhancing the sense of space. The Passport provided generous storage options, including a massive center console storage bin and various compartments throughout the cabin. Cargo space was also impressive, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The Sequoia's power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was a compromise, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. The Sequoia's maximum cargo capacity was 86.9 cubic feet, significantly less than its predecessor and competitors.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim offered a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The infotainment system was functional but lacked advanced features, and the navigation system was clunky. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's technology was not cutting-edge.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia introduced a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. The Sequoia also featured a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, the system had some quirks, such as glare on the display and occasional issues with Bluetooth pairing.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped 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-centering assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some of these systems were less refined, with lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist being particularly intrusive. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though it had some areas for improvement.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This package included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia's safety tech was effective, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist enhancing highway driving. While crash test ratings were not available at the time, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.