2022 Kia EV6 vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Kia EV6 presented a striking and sporty design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, with a lower and wider stance that gave it a visually appealing presence. Its short highback tail featured a lip spoiler doubling as a lightbar, and the wheels were pushed to the farthest corners of the chassis, creating a body with pronounced hips. The EV6's voluptuous curves, similar to those on a Porsche 911, added both style and stability. The headlights, with their V-shaped pattern, mirrored the black trim below, which mimicked sealed air intakes. The EV6's wedgy profile, with its angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, was complemented by a smooth and silken lower body, especially in the matte silver paint of the test car.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, resulting in a familiar design. The Passport's new nose aimed to give it a tougher look, with styling updates applied across all trim levels, including the base Sport, TrailSport, and upscale Touring. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, offering 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and traction management driving modes for snowy, muddy, and sandy conditions. The Passport's design modifications, such as unique 18-inch alloy wheels and simulated skid plates, gave it a more SUV-like appearance, while the interior boasted one of the largest spaces in the two-row midsize SUV segment.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly in its GT-Line e-AWD configuration, delivered impressive performance with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the EV6 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, with a 77.4 kWh battery providing the power. The EV6's handling was sharp, with torque distributed effectively between the motors, ensuring a smooth and responsive drive. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of Kia's estimated 441-kilometre range. Charging was efficient, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, though real-world charging speeds were lower due to network limitations.

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 responsive, with the Passport averaging 11.0 L/100 km in various driving conditions. The AWD system, Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4), provided mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport's off-road capabilities were limited, it excelled on paved roads, offering a firm, communicative ride and athletic handling. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern given the Passport's towing capacity.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative design elements, such as pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 690 litres behind the seats and 1,322 litres when folded. The towing capacity was 1,043 kilograms, and the onboard power generator could run 120-volt equipment or charge another EV.

The 2022 Honda Passport provided easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The interior featured large, comfortable seats with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. 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, with ample legroom and headroom in the second row. The cargo space was generous, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the back seat folded down. The Passport's interior offered plenty of storage options, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick and easy settings adjustments. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring a wired connection. The instrument panel displayed live feeds of blind spots and surrounding vehicles, while the 360-degree cameras provided clear views. The head-up display used augmented reality for navigation, and the GT-Line Package 2 included a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and remote parking assist.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system met modern standards but was due for an upgrade. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with satellite radio available on the TrailSport trim. The Touring trim added a navigation system, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HondaLink connected services. While the system lacked a stereo tuning knob, it was easy to cycle through favourite radio stations using steering wheel controls. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, but Apple CarPlay and Siri provided a better experience.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published safety test results but offered impressive standard safety features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, and driver attention warning. Higher trims added blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and 360 cameras.

The 2022 Honda Passport included the comprehensive Honda Sensing suite, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist functions were less refined, prompting drivers to turn them off. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in frontal impacts. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in small overlap collisions.