2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Acura MDX

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design language, despite Honda's recent updates to other models like the Civic and Accord. The Passport's exterior featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners, but it largely echoed Honda's older design ethos. The TrailSport trim, which we tested, was designed to appear rugged with all-terrain tires and roof rails, but lacked true off-road enhancements like metal skid plates or recovery points. Inside, the Passport offered a straightforward and utilitarian design with physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport trim added black leather upholstery with orange stitching, maintaining a simple yet functional interior.

In contrast, the 2025 Acura MDX received subtle exterior updates, including a new grille and revised bumpers, enhancing its sporty appearance. The interior saw more significant changes with a new touchscreen infotainment system replacing the previous touchpad interface, adding more storage space. The MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance trims featured luxurious 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The cabin was quieter due to added sound insulation, and the MDX offered a comfortable ride with logically placed controls. The new A-Spec Advance trim combined luxury with a sportier look, and the MDX lineup provided a range of options from the base model to the high-performance Type S Advance.

The 2024 Honda Passport was equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided adequate acceleration for its size. The Passport's torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and traction-management settings enhanced its off-road capabilities, especially in the TrailSport trim with its wider tracks and off-road-tuned suspension. However, the Passport's fuel economy was modest, rated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. Its towing capacity of 5,000 pounds surpassed some competitors but fell short of others like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The 2025 Acura MDX offered a choice between a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine with 290 horsepower and a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the Type S model, delivering 355 horsepower. The standard engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth power delivery, while the SH-AWD system enhanced handling. The MDX offered various driving modes, including Sport, which improved powertrain response but reduced fuel efficiency. The A-Spec Advance trim achieved 21 mpg combined, but our test vehicle averaged 18.4 mpg. The MDX excelled in typical driving situations, offering a smooth and comfortable ride, though it wasn't designed for off-roading.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. Its two-row configuration provided ample room for five adults, though rear-seat legroom was slightly tighter than some competitors. The front center console was redesigned for more storage, and the Passport featured numerous cupholders and storage options throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Acura MDX provided a luxurious interior with 16-way power-adjustable front seats in the Advance trims, offering exceptional comfort and support. The second row could be configured as a bench or individual seats, with a pass-through to the third row. While the third row was less comfortable for adults, it was suitable for children. The MDX offered 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. In-cabin storage was adequate, with a new center console and wireless charging pad.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small compared to competitors. It included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, but the navigation system's turn-by-turn directions could be intrusive. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was underwhelming, and audiophiles might prefer other options.

The 2025 Acura MDX introduced a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Alexa and Google Built-in, eliminating the previous touchpad interface. The system was intuitive and responsive, though SiriusXM required streaming via a smartphone app. AcuraLink connected services and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot were standard, and the MDX offered premium Bang & Olufsen audio systems with up to 31 speakers. The new infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 10.5-inch head-up display, providing comprehensive information.

The 2024 Honda Passport came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it received mixed crash test ratings, with an "Acceptable" rating from the IIHS and five stars overall from the NHTSA, but lower scores in specific tests.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured the AcuraWatch suite of driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The new AcuraWatch 360, exclusive to the Type S Advance, added advanced features like front cross-traffic alert and evasive steering warning. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not yet rated the 2025 model.