2024 Honda Passport vs 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade was a towering presence, standing nearly six-and-a-half feet tall and stretching up to 19 feet in length. It was a motorized cargo container with three rows of leather seats and an array of advanced technology. The Escalade ESV extended this grandeur by an additional 15 inches, primarily in the wheelbase. The Escalade, along with its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts, was designed for show, appealing to a diverse range of drivers from pop musicians to large families. Its athletic and trim appearance was achieved through clever design elements like thin LED lights and darkened chrome bits, which helped mask its massive size. The interior was luxurious, especially in the first row, with a 38-inch curved screen and high-quality materials. However, the allure diminished in the second and third rows, where cheaper GM parts were evident, and the seats lacked support. Cadillac acknowledged these shortcomings, hinting at improvements in future models.

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design, despite Honda's recent updates to other models. It featured a simple trim lineup with EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all equipped with leather seats, a power moonroof, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim was the most rugged, with all-terrain tires and roof rails, but it was more about appearance than true off-road capability. Inside, the Passport had a straightforward design with physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport's interior was accented with orange stitching, but overall, it was simple and unassuming. The Passport's utilitarian design was underscored by its practical features and ample storage space.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a pleasant driving experience, though its standard 6.2-liter V8 engine, with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, was more about cruising than speed. It achieved a combined 16 mpg with optional 4WD. The Escalade-V variant addressed acceleration with a supercharged Corvette V8, delivering 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque, but it seemed excessive. An optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 provided smoother torque and better fuel economy at 22 mpg combined. The Escalade's 4WD system was rudimentary, requiring manual engagement for low-traction surfaces. Its magnetic dampers and air suspension improved maneuverability, though wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered decent acceleration, though peak torque required higher revs. Fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The TrailSport trim had wider tracks, 18-inch wheels, and off-road-tuned suspension. All Passports came with Honda's iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with various settings. The Passport's steering was well-balanced, and it had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an exceptionally spacious interior, with 25 cubic feet behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet with both rows down. The Escalade ESV offered even more space, maxing out at 143 cubic feet. Its independent rear suspension allowed for generous headroom and legroom in all rows. The controls were user-friendly, with a smart and fast infotainment system. Optional features included a front console refrigerator and power-retractable side steps. However, the second-row seats were not powered like the third row.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The rear seats folded flush with the trunk floor, making it easy to load long items. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned center console for more storage. The front-seat environment felt less airy due to the new console design, but it provided increased storage space.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. A front camera displayed a high-res feed with navigation overlays in the driver's field of view. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option, was the best hands-free highway driving system available, using infrared eye-tracking cameras for safety. The Escalade also offered night vision with pedestrian detection, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, massaging front seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system with streaming capabilities.

The 2024 Honda Passport came with an 8-inch touchscreen, which felt small given the cabin's spaciousness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. The screen offered sharp resolution and quick response, but the navigation system's turn-by-turn directions were intrusive. The TrailSport trim had a seven-speaker audio system, which was thin compared to competitors' offerings.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert seat, rear parking sensors, and a rear seat reminder. Optional features included reverse emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Super Cruise.

The 2024 Honda Passport came standard with 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, the Passport received lower ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and a "Marginal" rating in the updated side-impact crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests.