2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, known for its iconic boxy design, was a symbol of luxury and rugged capability. Its straight-edged, two-box design was a nod to its military origins, yet it had been embraced by celebrities and luxury car enthusiasts alike. The G-Class offered a unique blend of retro styling and modern luxury, with a hand-built construction in Austria. Inside, the G-Class featured a sophisticated interior with a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system and a matching virtual instrument panel, allowing for a customizable and immersive driving experience. Despite its luxurious appeal, the G-Class remained a capable off-road vehicle, with a design that could be customized extensively through the G Manufaktur Program.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Pilot, giving it a familiar look and feel. The Passport's new styling aimed to provide a tougher appearance, especially with the introduction of the TrailSport trim, which added off-road-inspired design elements. The Passport was available in three trims: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite, each offering new wheel designs and a range of standard features. While the TrailSport trim was more about aesthetics than actual off-road capability, it still offered standard all-wheel drive and traction management driving modes for various conditions. The Passport's interior was spacious and comfortable, with quality materials and thoughtful design, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class was a powerhouse, with the G550 model featuring a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive, allowed the G550 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. The G-Class boasted a robust suspension system, with a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle, providing a smooth ride on various terrains. For those seeking even more power, the AMG G63 variant offered 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Despite its impressive performance, the G-Class had a fuel economy rating of 13 mpg city/19 mpg highway for the G550 and 13/16 for the G63.

The 2022 Honda Passport, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and responsive, providing a satisfying driving experience. The TrailSport and Elite trims came standard with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system, which offered mechanical torque vectoring and could distribute up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined for front-wheel drive and 21 mpg for all-wheel drive. While the Passport excelled on paved roads, its off-road capabilities were limited compared to more rugged SUVs.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class offered a spacious and luxurious interior, with a cargo capacity of 38.1 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 68.6 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The G550 had a payload capacity of over 1,000 pounds and could tow up to 7,700 pounds. The cabin was roomy, with comfortable seating and ample storage options. However, some luxury features, like ventilated front seats, were only available as part of expensive packages. The G-Class also featured a spare tire mounted on the tailgate, adding to its rugged appeal.

The 2022 Honda Passport provided generous interior space, with 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 77.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with large, comfortable seats and plenty of storage options. The Elite trim offered additional luxury features like ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Passport's low step-in height and large doors made it easy to access, while the spacious rear seating area provided ample room for passengers.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class featured advanced technology, with twin 12.3-inch HD screens for the instrument panel and infotainment system. These screens were customizable, allowing drivers to tailor the display to their preferences. The G-Class also included a Burmester Surround Sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, wireless device charging was not available. The G-Class offered a rear-seat entertainment system and multiple USB and 12-volt outlets for added convenience.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The Passport's infotainment system was straightforward but lacked some modern features, such as a stereo tuning knob. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, providing added convenience for tech-savvy drivers.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz G-Class came equipped with a range of safety features, including a rearview camera, Pre-Safe, traffic-sign assist, attention assist, active lane-keeping assist, active brake assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. However, the G-Class had not been rated for crash-worthiness by the IIHS or NHTSA. The active lane-keeping assist system was noted for its abrupt interventions, which could be distracting for drivers.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Passport also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some of these systems were criticized for their lack of refinement, with drivers often choosing to disable them. The Passport received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though it fell short in some areas, such as front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.