The 2021 Honda Passport Is a Worthy Jeep Grand Cherokee Rival
Things are getting spicy with the 2021 Honda Passport. It serves as an example of a modern two-row crossover with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more of a traditional SUV. Can the Honda Passport tackle the long-reigning champion?
2021 Honda Passport vs. 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Let’s start with pricing. You can get started in a 2021 Honda Passport for about $32,790. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee begins at about $33,275. That’s only a $485 difference between the MSRPs.
Both of these options aren’t great on fuel. The Honda Passport gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 25 mpg on the highway. The Grand Cherokee gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Is the Passport or Grand Cherokee more capable?
The base engine in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a 3.6-liter V6 unit with 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 5.7-liter V8 for 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 6.4-liter V8 provides 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and the Trackhawk has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque.
With the 2021 Honda Passport, you get a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 lbs which is pretty good. The Grand Cherokee can tow up to 7,200 lbs, so it’s better for pulling campers and larger trailers.
The Grand Cherokee is the more capable off-roader, so the ride is firm compared to the sportier Passport. The Passport may experience squishy brakes, though. It’s known for doing nose dives with harsh stops. The Grand Cherokee may feel a little more stable.
Both the Passport and Grand Cherokee receive praise for having a quiet interior. But the Grand Cherokee may rattle over larger bumps. The Grand Cherokee has more comfortable seats, while the Passport has a faster-acting climate control system.
Does the Grand Cherokee or Passport have better features?
Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Passport have spacious cabins in the front and second row. The Passport provides 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat with up to 100.7 cubes total.
The Grand Cherokee has 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with up to 68.3 cubes. Storage space may be limited, but that’s because the Grand Cherokee comes with a full-size spare tire.
With the 2021 Honda Passport, you get an attractive enough cabin with a simple layout. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee blends a sense of luxury with rugged capability. Along with soft-touch materials and leather, you’ll find hard plastics.
The Passport comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen. A 5-inch screen comes standard in the Grand Cherokee, but you can upgrade to the 8.4-inch screen. Both SUVs include AppleCarPlay and Android Auto.
Not many standard safety features come with the Grand Cherokee. The Passport includes standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
The Honda Passport is the more spacious and comfortable option for families and as a daily driver. However, the Jeep Grand Cherokee may feel more luxurious and is more capable of towing and off-roading.
