2024 Honda Passport vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous-generation 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 trim levels: 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 ruggedness, included all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights. However, its rugged appearance was more for show, with plastic skid plates and no lift kit. Inside, the Passport had a simple and utilitarian design, with black leather upholstery and orange accents in the TrailSport trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90, on the other hand, exuded a luxury SUV vibe with its lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels. Its sculptural sheet metal and athletic stance contributed to its premium appearance. Inside, the CX-90 featured an elegantly rendered interior with polished metallic trim and Nappa leather upholstery. However, some ergonomic issues, such as a confusing electronic shifter and counterintuitive climate controls, detracted from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-90's interior felt upscale compared to most midsize three-row crossover SUVs.

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. However, the lack of turbocharging meant peak torque arrived at 4,700 RPM, requiring higher revs for quick acceleration. 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 off-road-tuned suspension. The Passport's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo S variant offered even more power, with 319 hp and 369 lb-ft. Power was channeled through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system. The CX-90's AWD system favored the rear wheels for improved driving dynamics. It offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The CX-90's fuel economy was rated at 25 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed 21.3 mpg. While the CX-90 provided impressive ride and handling, drivetrain refinement was lacking, with unpredictable power delivery and transmission behavior.

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

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's interior featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, the three-zone climate control system struggled to cool the cabin quickly. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable but lacked seat-track travel, making rear-facing child seat installation challenging. The third row was best suited for children. Cargo space was 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40 cubic feet with the third row folded and 74.2 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2024 Honda Passport came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which felt small compared to competitors. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. However, the system's navigation display was occasionally intrusive, and the seven-speaker audio system lacked depth.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, requiring the use of a knob and buttons for the native Mazda Connect platform. The voice recognition system was subpar, but a new Google Built-in infotainment system was expected in future models. The CX-90's 12-speaker Bose audio system provided a rewarding listening experience.

The 2024 Honda Passport included a comprehensive suite of safety features under the "Honda Sensing" umbrella, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, 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-90 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in NHTSA crash tests. It came with a long list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Higher trim levels added advanced features like steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-90's driver aids generally met expectations, though some features, like speed reduction, could be irritating.