2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of production, offered a nostalgic nod to its storied past with the Heritage Edition trim. This version celebrated the SUV's 65th anniversary with distinctive features like bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof basket, all wrapped in a Midnight Black exterior. However, the standard Land Cruiser, which arrived for review, was less visually striking, sporting Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery. Its exterior design, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, was characterized by oversized headlights and a chrome-heavy aesthetic. Inside, the Land Cruiser combined high-quality materials with a mix of Toyota and Lexus design elements, including a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport adopted a more modern and rugged appearance, closely resembling the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. Sharing a platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, the Passport was essentially a shorter, two-row version of the Pilot with unique styling. The updated design, applied across all trim levels, aimed to give the Passport a tougher look. The new TrailSport trim, in particular, targeted off-road enthusiasts with its all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, and traction management modes. The Passport's interior was spacious and well-appointed, with quality materials and thoughtful design elements, making it a comfortable and practical choice for everyday use.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Despite its power, the engine was remarkably quiet, contributing to a refined driving experience. The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was supported by features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control, making it capable of tackling challenging terrains. On-road, the SUV offered a smooth and quiet ride, though its nearly 3-ton weight affected handling. The Land Cruiser's towing capacity was rated at 8,100 pounds, adding to its versatility.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the Passport offered a smooth and responsive driving experience. The TrailSport trim, equipped with Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system, provided mechanical torque vectoring and improved off-road capability. While not as rugged as some competitors, the Passport excelled on paved roads, offering a firm ride and agile handling. Its towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it achieved an average fuel economy of 21.3 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious, with premium leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. The SUV offered a commanding driving position and a spacious second-row bench seat with heated cushions. However, the third-row seat was less comfortable for adults on long trips. Cargo space was limited to 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 82.8 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Land Cruiser's split clamshell tailgate provided convenient access to the cargo area.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured large, comfortable seats with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Passport's interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. The SUV offered generous storage options, including a large center console bin and door panel shelving. Cargo space measured 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Passport's practicality and comfort made it a user-friendly choice for families.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was dated, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system lacking modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system relied on Toyota Entune technology, offering limited functionality and a basic voice-recognition system. The SUV included a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system and a 14-speaker JBL audio system, though these features felt outdated compared to competitors.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system met modern standards, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The Passport's technology was user-friendly, though the navigation system was clunky, prompting users to rely on smartphone integration for navigation.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the SUV lacked more advanced features like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping assistance. With 10 airbags and a robust curb weight, the Land Cruiser offered a sense of security, though crash-test ratings were unavailable.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. While comprehensive, the system's lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions were less refined, prompting some drivers to disable them. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though it fell short in certain areas, such as front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.