2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design language, despite Honda's recent updates across its lineup. While the Passport and Ridgeline received minor tweaks in 2022, such as a more upright grille and squared-off corners, the overall aesthetic remained consistent with Honda’s older designs. The Passport offered three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all featuring leather seats, a power moonroof, identical touchscreens, and all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim, designed to be the most rugged, 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 featured traditional controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a simple yet functional interior with black leather upholstery and orange stitching in the TrailSport trim.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered during a rental experience in Hawaii, was noted for its black-on-black color scheme, which was less than ideal for the tropical climate. Despite this, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its military heritage, remained appealing with its iconic seven-slot grille and American-made label. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. The Sport S model, priced at nearly $50,000, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a functional interior designed for rugged use. While the Wrangler's ride was rough and its handling traits were less refined, it offered a sense of freedom and capability, making it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication.

The 2024 Honda Passport was equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided adequate acceleration and smooth gear shifts. 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 with all-terrain tires, and a suspension tuned for off-road driving. All Passports came with Honda’s torque-vectoring iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with various settings. The Passport's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering better performance at higher elevations and slightly improved fuel efficiency at 21 mpg combined. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its ride was rough, and its handling was less refined, with a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. Despite these drawbacks, the Wrangler's off-road capabilities remained impressive.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned center console for increased storage. The interior was simple yet functional, with a focus on utility and comfort.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim featured comfortable cloth upholstery and optional heated front seats and steering wheel. While the Wrangler could seat five, four passengers were more comfortable, with limited rear-seat legroom and storage space. Cargo access was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design, but the cargo hold offered 31.7 cubic feet of space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. While the screen offered sharp resolution and quick response, its size felt inadequate for the spacious cabin. The TrailSport trim included a seven-speaker audio system, which was less impressive compared to competitors' offerings.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional nine-speaker Alpine sound system. The system remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group package added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine start, enhancing the Wrangler's technological appeal.

The 2024 Honda Passport came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 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 mixed crash test ratings, with an "Acceptable" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment, but advanced driver assistance systems were mostly optional. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on most trims, while forward collision warning required the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results from the IIHS.