Honda is one of the most popular and well-respected automakers in the world, and it’s usually not surprising when a Honda wins an award. With that being said, the 2021 Honda Passport isn’t the most well-known Honda, yet it actually just beat the Kia Telluride for an award. Here’s a look at how and why that upset happened.

A midsize SUV for the family

There are a lot of things to look for when shopping for a midsize SUV for your family, and car review sites can do a great job at narrowing the options down. After all, the midsize SUV segment is one of the most competitive segments for cars, since so many automakers have a midsize SUV option on the market. And, when it comes to midsize SUVs and car reviewers, one car usually gets the nod, and that’s the Kia Telluride.

With that being said, after looking at multiple factors that make for a good family car, such as safety, reliability, child-friendly options, etc, Good Housekeeping actually did not choose the Telluride. In a shocking upset, Good Housekeeping gave the 2021 Honda Passport the nod for being the best midsize SUV for families. 

Well, it’s probably not so much of an upset but rather, a difference in definitions. After all, Good Housekeeping didn’t snub the Telluride. In fact, while the Telluride is considered to be a midsize SUV by most publications, Good Housekeeping ended up naming it the best full-size SUV for families.

Why the 2021 Honda Passport won

The Honda Passport, which is a two-row SUV that can seat five people, is definitely in the midsize SUV segment, but so is the Telluride, which is a three-row SUV that can seat up to eight people. As such, despite being in the same segment, it’s very possible that, due to the Telluride’s extra row of seats, Good Housekeeping ultimately decided to call it a full-size SUV instead. 

Regardless, the Passport is no slouch, and it definitely earned its spot on Good Housekeeping’s list. After all, the Passport is still a Honda, and as such, Honda’s reputation for making safe and reliable cars will ring true for the Passport as well. On top of that, while the Passport may not have a third row of seats, its two rows are still very spacious and comfortable, according to Good Housekeeping.

Furthermore, while the Passport is not going to win any races, Good Housekeeping said that it was “surprisingly quick and nimble,” which should be an added bonus for families on a road trip. That said, the Passport has front-wheel drive as standard, and as such, customers will have to pay a premium to equip it with all-wheel drive.

An overview of the 2021 Honda Passport

Since the Honda Passport is affordably priced, that premium shouldn’t be too big of a deal for many families. Like Good Housekeeping said, the Passport starts at about $33,000, and it does have plenty of standard features that won’t require paying extra. For example, many smart safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane keeping assist are all standard as part of the Honda Sensing suite. 

On top of that, according to Good Housekeeping, as part of the upgrades for the 2021 model year, Honda beefed up the Passport’s infotainment system. Instead of a more average-sized 5-inch touchscreen display, the 2021 Passport now has a much bigger 8-inch touchscreen. Another family-friendly feature is the fact that the Passport has plenty of extra storage space for families to fill up with whatever gadgets or gizmos they’re carrying around.

While it may not be outright better than the 2021 Kia Telluride, the 2021 Honda Passport proves that it’s worth your consideration.