2024 Honda Passport vs 2024 Lexus TX

The 2024 Lexus TX was based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, yet it distinguished itself as a luxury SUV. Its upscale appearance was enhanced by 22-inch wheels in a silver finish, part of the TX 350 Executive packages, which significantly improved its presence. The styling of the TX was more conservative compared to other Lexus models, offering a toned-down design that might appeal to those previously put off by the brand's aesthetics. The TX was available in TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid models, with prices ranging from $72,036 to $87,486, including destination charges and dealer fees. The TX 350, likely the volume-selling version, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive, with options for Ultra Luxury or Executive packages. The interior, while luxurious, felt too dark with the Peppercorn interior and black-grained trim, despite the panoramic glass sunroof.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design, despite Honda's updated design language across other models. The Passport featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners since 2022, but it still shared similarities with Honda's previous-generation designs. Available in Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, the Passport included a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive on every trim level. The TrailSport trim, tested for its rugged appeal, came with all-terrain tires and standard roof rails and LED fog lights in Canada. However, its rugged appearance was more aesthetic than functional, with plastic skid plates and no recovery points. The interior featured old-school physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen, with black leather upholstery and orange contrast stitching in the TrailSport trim. Despite its simplicity, the interior was well-integrated with resilient materials.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed it could accelerate to 100 km/h in roughly eight seconds, though it felt quicker due to the torque. The official fuel economy rating was 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but during testing, it averaged 13.8 L/100 km. The ride and handling were well-balanced, with a firm suspension providing a comfortable ride and accurate steering. However, the brake pedal felt too soft, though it was easy to modulate for smooth stops.

The 2024 Honda Passport, on the other hand, featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport accelerated well, with peak torque at 4,700 RPM. Fuel economy was rated at 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.8 on the highway, and 11.3 combined. The TrailSport trim had wider tracks, 18-inch wheels, and a suspension tuned for off-road driving. The Passport's steering was well-balanced and accurate, with minimal play off-centre. Towing capacity maxed out at 2,268 kilograms, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs. The TX 350 test unit featured premium semi-aniline leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel as standard in Canada. The third-row seat was habitable for adults, offering more comfort than previous models. Cargo space measured 572 litres behind the third-row seat, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 2,746 litres with the second-row seats down. However, the second-row legroom was limited, affecting comfort when accommodating third-row passengers.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 1,430 litres of space behind the rear seats, with additional underfloor storage. The cargo space expanded to 2,854 litres with the rear seats folded. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned centre console bin for more storage. The front-seat environment felt less airy due to the taller console, but it provided more storage space.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, and optional head-up display, surround-view camera, and semi-autonomous parking assist system. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a 14-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Drive Connect subscription for cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The TX also offered free 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect, and a three-year Remote Connect subscription. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2024 Honda Passport, however, was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. The system pushed turn-by-turn directions to the driver's information display, which could be irritating in city driving. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was thin, with better options available in competitors.

The 2024 Lexus TX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist was also included, though it wasn't always transparent in operation. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional front and rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control as standard. However, it received lower ratings in crash tests from the IIHS and NHTSA, with an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and a "Marginal" rating in the updated side-impact crash tests.