2025 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Honda Passport

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design, despite Honda's recent updates to other models. It featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners, but overall, it maintained a familiar look. The Passport offered three trims: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all equipped with leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim, designed for rugged appeal, included all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights, but lacked true off-road enhancements like metal skid plates or recovery points. Inside, the Passport had a simple, utilitarian design with physical controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and black leather upholstery with orange stitching.

The 2025 Ford Explorer continued its sleek design with a refreshed front end, giving it a wider and more rugged appearance. New LED taillights and wheel designs added to its appeal. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements in materials and design, making it competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the trim levels to four: Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST, with prices ranging from $39,755 to $55,505. The ST-Line, with its sporty features and RWD, was a highlight during a test drive in Michigan, showcasing its balanced performance and comfort.

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

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engines. Most trims had a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The ST and optional Platinum trims featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. All Explorers had a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD, with optional 4WD. The ST-Line's turbo four-cylinder averaged 23.8 mpg during testing. The Explorer's performance was enhanced by larger wheels and optional performance brakes. The twin-turbo V6 provided fast acceleration and a pleasant sound, with observed fuel economy at 22.9 mpg.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.7 cubic feet with seats folded. It comfortably seated five adults, though rear legroom was slightly tighter than some competitors. The front featured a redesigned center console for more storage. The Passport's interior was practical, with ample cupholders and storage options.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional bench seat for seven. The ST-Line trim included heated front seats, ambient lighting, and a power-folding third row. The front seats were comfortable, and the second-row captain's chairs offered additional comfort. The third row was less comfortable for adults. Cargo space was competitive, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85.8 cubic feet maximum.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The system had sharp resolution but was considered small for the cabin size. Navigation directions were sometimes intrusive on the driver's display. The TrailSport's seven-speaker audio system was underwhelming compared to competitors' offerings.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrumentation. It included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and app downloads available. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the ST-Line featuring 10 speakers and higher trims offering 14 speakers and 980 watts.

The 2024 Honda Passport included 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, it received mixed crash test ratings, with an "Acceptable" rating from IIHS and five stars overall from NHTSA.

The 2025 Ford Explorer came with Ford CoPilot 360+, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering. Higher trims featured BlueCruise, a hands-free highway driving system. The Explorer had not been fully rated by NHTSA, but it received five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.