2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous-generation design, despite Honda's recent updates to other models like the Civic and Accord. The Passport's exterior featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners, but it largely maintained its familiar look. The TrailSport trim, aimed at ruggedness, included all-terrain tires and standard roof rails, but lacked true off-road enhancements like metal skid plates or recovery points. Inside, the Passport offered a straightforward design with physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport trim added black leather upholstery with orange stitching, maintaining a simple yet functional interior.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, debuting its fifth generation in 2024, showcased a chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions. Each trim had distinct wheel sizes, with the off-road-focused XRT trim featuring chrome and black exterior accents. Inside, the Santa Fe offered seating for seven, except in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which had captain's chairs. The interior boasted good fit and finish, though some squeaks were noted. The Santa Fe's design emphasized practicality with adjustable second-row seats and a spacious cargo area.

The 2024 Honda Passport was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth acceleration, though peak torque required higher RPMs. The Passport's fuel economy was rated at 12.5 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 on the highway. The TrailSport trim featured wider tracks and off-road-tuned suspension, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Passport's towing capacity reached 2,268 kg, surpassing competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback Wilderness.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission managed gear shifts, though some turbo lag was noted. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a combined 231 horsepower. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, improving off-road geometry. However, the Santa Fe was not designed for rugged off-roading. Its towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kg.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 1,430 litres behind the rear seats and expanding to 2,854 litres with the rear seats folded. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, though rear-seat legroom was slightly tighter than the Santa Fe. The front centre console was redesigned for more storage, and the interior featured numerous cupholders and practical storage solutions.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provided ample interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo capacity, reaching 2,267 litres. The rear opening was widened for easier loading. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied, with the XRT trim offering the highest capacity. The interior featured heated seats, a sunroof, and a 115-volt outlet, with additional luxury features available in higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the screen offered sharp resolution, its size felt small for the spacious cabin. The TrailSport trim included a seven-speaker audio system, which was less impressive compared to competitors' offerings. Navigation was limited to the Black Edition trim, and the infotainment system had some usability quirks.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though built-in navigation was reserved for higher trims. The Santa Fe offered multiple USB-C ports, wireless charging, and a digital key feature. Higher trims included a digital rearview mirror and head-up display, enhancing convenience and safety.

The 2024 Honda Passport came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, its crash test ratings were mixed, with the IIHS rating it "Acceptable" in some tests and "Marginal" in others. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but noted lower scores in frontal and rollover tests.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a wide range of standard safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance. Higher trims added advanced features like Highway Drive Assist and Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA rated the Santa Fe four out of five stars overall, while the IIHS gave it top ratings in most categories, except for headlights and LATCH.