Honda Passport vs Volkswagen ID.4

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous-generation design language despite some surface tweaks it received in earlier updates. It showcased an upright grille and squared-off corners, giving it a robust appearance. However, it maintained a resemblance to earlier models with three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition. The TrailSport, aimed at rugged aesthetics, featured all-terrain General Grabber A/T sport tires with a three-peak mountain snowflake emblem, roof rails, and LED fog lights, making it more visually equipped for off-road adventures. However, the Passport TrailSport mostly presented itself as rugged without substantial off-road enhancements beyond its visual cues. The interior was straightforward, with physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The black leather upholstery combined with orange contrast stitching and resilient plastics gave the interior a practical yet durable feel.

The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 exhibited a conservative but timeless design. The AWD versions sported standard 20-inch wheels, with the S Plus trim offering an 21-inch design. The lineup included the ID.4 with a 62-kWh battery and the ID.4 Pro with an 82-kWh battery, available in base, S, and S Plus trims. The ID.4’s cabin maintained a classic layout with changes, such as shifting the transmission selector and wiper controls, improving usability. Inside, the ID.4 provided choices of upholstery material ranging from artificial leather to fabric bolsters, with optional ventilated seats and a new 12.9-inch infotainment system, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2024 Honda Passport was equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, transmitted through a nine-speed automatic transmission. It accelerated well, and gear shifts were smooth and unobtrusive. The TrailSport model sported all-terrain tires and a retuned suspension, enhancing its off-road capabilities, although the vehicle experienced significant noise at highway speeds. Honda's torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and traction-management system, which came standard with all trims, ensured adaptability across various terrains. The Passport offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds but fell short of the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s capacity.

The 2024 VW ID.4 received a significant boost with a new rear electric drive motor in the Pro models, providing 282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque, and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. The standard 62-kWh models had 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. The Pro AWD version came equipped with dual motors, enhancing it to 335 hp and achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The ID.4 Pro offered superior driving ranges of up to 291 miles with RWD and 263 miles with AWD. Charging capabilities included compatibility with 11-kW Level 2 home chargers and fast-charging options, allowing for considerable convenience on longer trips.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. This expanded to 77.7 cubic feet with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down. The Passport featured additional underfloor storage, enhancing its utility. This was particularly impressive compared to competitors like the Outback, Santa Fe, and Grand Cherokee. The Passport’s interior space was generous, accommodating five adults comfortably. The front underwent a notable change with a taller, deeper center console bin, increasing storage options. Rear occupants also benefited from ample legroom and multiple cupholders, ensuring a comfortable ride for all passengers.

In contrast, the 2024 VW ID.4 had 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded down, which although spacious, was still less than the Passport. The ID.4 emphasized ease of use and comfort, with redesigned interior controls and a larger 12.9-inch infotainment system. The front seats offered excellent visibility and comfort, with additional amenities like ventilated front seats in higher trims. Rear-seat legroom and comfort were commendable, albeit slightly less spacious than the Passport.

The 2024 Honda Passport provided standard technological features, including an 8-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. However, the system fell short with its smaller screen size compared to competitors and some usability quirks in navigation. Audiophiles might find the standard seven-speaker audio system lacking, despite an available upgrade in the Black Edition trim.

The 2024 VW ID.4 introduced a robust technological upgrade with a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen in the Pro models, enhanced with a new layout for better usability. The Pro versions featured a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, upgradeable navigation with battery preconditioning, and voice assistant capabilities. Nonetheless, ID.4’s voice assistant, Ida, wasn’t always responsive in finding specific locations but handled other commands competently. The ID.4 also provided extensive connected services, turning the SUV into a practical and tech-savvy choice.

The 2024 Honda Passport came equipped with an array of standard safety features under the "Honda Sensing" umbrella, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Despite these features, it received mixed ratings from safety institutions, with the IIHS rating the Passport as “Acceptable” and “Marginal” in certain tests, and the NHTSA awarding it an overall five-star rating, though with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests.

The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 boasted an extensive suite of safety features under the IQ.Drive collection. This included post-collision braking, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist, which could autonomously stop the vehicle if the driver became unresponsive. The ID.4 also offered an advanced semi-autonomous parking system, Memory Parking. In crash tests, the ID.4 received favorable ratings from the NHTSA, although the IIHS had incomplete data at the time but showed promising results.