Honda Passport vs Porsche Macan

The 2022 Porsche Macan continued to embody the brand's commitment to performance and luxury, maintaining its sleek and athletic design that had evolved subtly since its introduction in 2015. The Macan S test vehicle, adorned in Volcano Gray with 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, showcased Porsche's tradition of graceful aging, with its sloping clamshell hood and rakish roofline. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsche models, featuring a sporty and upscale cabin with red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents. The new centre console with haptic touch controls added a modern touch, although it required drivers to look away from the road to operate.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport adopted a more rugged appearance, closely resembling the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. Sharing a platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, the Passport offered a shorter, two-row SUV option with a tougher front-end design. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, aimed to attract off-road enthusiasts with its unique styling elements, including 18-inch alloy wheels and simulated skid plates. Inside, the Passport boasted a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample room for passengers and cargo. The TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting, enhancing the cabin's appeal.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of powertrains, with the base Macan and Macan T featuring a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 from the previous Macan Turbo, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Our Macan S test car was equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6, generating 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans featured a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The Macan S also benefited from larger 20-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and optional performance upgrades like Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes.

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 AWD in Canada. The Passport's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) system provided mechanical torque vectoring, distributing up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport TrailSport test vehicle averaged 11.0 L/100 km, slightly better than the official rating of 11.3 L/100 km. While the Passport excelled on paved roads with its firm ride and athletic handling, its off-road capabilities were limited, with the i-VTM4 system compensating for wheel articulation challenges.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a comfortable driving experience, with optional 14-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. However, rear-seat space was limited, especially for taller passengers. The redesigned centre console with haptic touch controls provided a modern look but required drivers to divert their attention from the road. Cargo space measured 488 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,503 litres with the rear seats folded.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport excelled in interior space and comfort. Its large doors and low step-in height made entry and exit easy, while the spacious cabin offered ample room for passengers and cargo. The TrailSport trim featured heated rear seats, and the Touring trim added ventilated front seats. The Passport's cargo capacity was impressive, with 1,430 litres of space behind the rear seats and a maximum of 2,854 litres with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came equipped with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and connected services. While the user experience was generally intuitive, the voice recognition system was less reliable than competitors. The Macan offered stereo volume and tuning controls separate from the touchscreen, reducing the need for frequent interaction with the infotainment system.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The TrailSport trim added satellite radio, while the Touring trim included a navigation system and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Passport's infotainment system was functional but lacked advanced features, and the navigation system was clunky. However, wireless smartphone charging was standard in all but the base Sport trim.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included standard lane-departure warning and a reversing camera, with optional features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. While these technologies performed as expected, the Macan lacked advanced driving assistance features found in some competitors. Parking assistance options included a surround-view camera and Park Assist system.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the comprehensive Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. However, some features, like lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist, were less refined, prompting drivers to disable them. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with minor shortcomings in front-passenger protection.