2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design, despite Honda's recent updates across its lineup. It featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners from its 2022 tweaks, but largely maintained the look of Honda’s older models. 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, tested for its rugged appeal, included all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights, but lacked metal skid plates and recovery points, making it more aesthetic than functional. Inside, the Passport had an 8-inch touchscreen and simple controls, with black leather upholstery and orange stitching in the TrailSport trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 stood out with its elegant curves, maintaining its attractive design since 2017. Its interior boasted high-quality materials and a blend of analog and digital elements, favoring usability over flashy tech. The CX-5's physical controls allowed for easy adjustments without relying on a touchscreen. Soft-touch materials dominated the cabin, with a few sturdy plastic elements. The design was comparable to luxury brands, offering a refined feel that surpassed many competitors in its class.

The 2024 Honda Passport was powered by 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 smooth acceleration. 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 suspension. However, its fuel economy was modest at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The Passport's towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and a turbocharged version with 256 horsepower. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The turbo model accelerated quickly, making it one of the faster options in its class. The CX-5 excelled in handling, with minimal body roll and a sporty feel. Its ride was slightly firm, but the cabin remained quiet, filtering out road noise effectively.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. It comfortably accommodated five adults, with ample storage and cupholders. The front center console was redesigned for more storage, though it slightly reduced the airy feel of the cabin.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5, while stylish, offered less practicality in terms of space. It provided 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The CX-5's interior was well-designed but lacked the spaciousness of some rivals. It featured moderately sized storage options and a power liftgate on higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Passport came with an 8-inch infotainment display, which felt small for its cabin size. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. However, the navigation system's persistent turn-by-turn directions were a minor annoyance. The TrailSport's seven-speaker audio system was adequate but not exceptional.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch display controlled by a center console dial, offering easy operation while driving. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless options on higher trims. The CX-5's analog gauges felt dated, but a head-up display was standard on midrange trims. The audio system ranged from a basic four-speaker setup to a premium 10-speaker Bose system.

The 2024 Honda Passport included standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, 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.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS. It included standard safety features and additional options like adaptive headlights and a surround-view camera on higher trims. The CX-5's systems operated smoothly without false alarms.