Page 22 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

SUVOTY I Contenders
Honda Passport

PRO Huge, useful interior package • Great value • Five-star safety rating
CON Ho-hum exterior • Unremarkable driving dynamics • Not very stylish
f the Honda Pilot is a pair of blue for 280 horsepower and 262-lb-ft Where the Passport unques- may not care to be seen in jorts,
jeans, the new Honda Passport of torque, leading to a 0–60 time tionably shines is in packaging. but they couldn’t deny the Pass-
Iis jorts (jean shorts, for you of 6.6 harmonious seconds. Honda claims it has class-leading port’s off-road capability, safety
olds out there); both have the “The engine emits a lovely passenger room and interior and value.
same width and wheelbase, but melody with smooth and satis- volume, and it certainly looks and With a 5-Star NHTSA safety
the Passport is 6 inches shorter fying shifts from the nine-speed feels that way on the inside. “The rating, three-zone climate
overall and thus has two rows of auto,” Priddle said, commending huge, fold-flat second-row seat control, heated and ventilated
seats to the Pilot’s three. the Passport’s sole transmission means you can park and take a seats, Apple CarPlay, and
The Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, option. Editors generally agreed nap in the back, even if you’re 6 onboard Wi-Fi, Passport presents
Odyssey, and Passport share the that the transmission is better feet tall,” Rechtin said. a safe and solid value. Said
same American-made 3.5-liter in the Passport than it is in other “Bland” and “lacking emotional Cortina, a noted jorts aficio-
V-6 engine, albeit in slightly applications. appeal” were how a couple of nado, “The amount of space and
different states of tune. In our Evans took it even further: “All SUVOTY judges described the equipment that one gets for the
Passport Elite AWD tester, this the sloppiness and clunkiness Passport, noting bolder players in money is pretty good.”
naturally aspirated V-6 is good have been purged.” the competitive set. These judges Edward Loh

SPECS 2019 Honda Passport Elite
Base Price/As Tested $44,775/$44,775
Power (SAE net) 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 6.6 sec
Quarter Mile 15.1 sec @ 89.2 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 135 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.78 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.1 sec @ 0.64 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 19/24/21 mpg

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 3.5L SOHC 24-valve V-6/9-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,264
lb (58/42%)Wheelbase 110.9 in Length x Width x Height 190.5 x 78.6 x 72.2 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 177/140 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions,
Comb 0.93 lb/mile

Hyundai Palisade

PRO Tremendous value • Stylish interior • Packaging, storage solutions
CON Adequate engine • Tight third row • Oh … that grille

ith smart packaging, A platform cousin of the Kia
room for seven, and lots Telluride, the Palisade’s ride more
Wof thoughtful features, approximates that of a floaty
the Palisade delivers sufficiently minivan than a bumpy SUV. The
macho looks while providing for suspension’s composure over a locking center differential, and eased by built-in grab handles,
your family. If it carried a BMW bumps is impressive for a big downhill speed control. but it can be tight back there.
or Lexus badge, it would cost 75 vehicle—but there was tire howl Then there’s its looks. The Clever touches include center-
grand. Instead, a loaded version around even the gentlest curves. Palisade’s Predator-with-an- console storage, usefully located
comes in a touch over $47,000. The engine unfortunately underbite visage is a challenge to USB ports, and a screen that
“The style, materials, and feels a bit soggy in getting up confront every morning. However, shows your blind spots.
feature content are enough to go to speed. Thankfully, throttle de Nysschen was complimentary Overall, this is a crossover for
toe to toe with anything Buick or response is adequate, and the of the “attractive, modern interior the practical buyer, Priddle said:
Acura can offer,” Evans said. “And transmission shifts quickly. design with good packaging.” “Thoughtful touches, not driving
the interior is nicer than some For those in snowy climes, the The second-row seats slide dynamics, are the reason to buy
luxury vehicles.” Palisade offers all-wheel drive, fore and aft. Third-row access is this.” Mark Rechtin

SPECS 2020 Hyundai Palisade HTRAC
Base Price/As Tested $34,295/$47,605
Power (SAE net) 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 7.1 sec
Quarter Mile 15.3 sec @ 89.1 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 129 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.74 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.3 sec @ 0.63 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 19/24/21 mpg
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 7-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 3.8L DOHC 24-valve V-6/8-speed automatic Curb Weight
(F/R Dist) 4,459 lb (56/44%) Wheelbase 114.2 in Length x Width x Height 196.1 x 77.8 x 68.9 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 177/140 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.93 lb/mile
22 MOTORTREND.COM JANUARY 2020