Compare the2023 Honda PassportVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Grand Cherokee’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Passport. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

Both the Passport and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Passport has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Passport’s reliability 44 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Passport third among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Jeep.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda Passport is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Passport gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee 5.7 OHV V8 running its gasoline engine (19 city/24 hwy vs. 14 city/22 hwy).

Both the Passport and the Grand Cherokee V6/4xe have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Passports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the Grand Cherokee V6.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee 4xe requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

The Passport stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

The Passport TrailSport’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Passport TrailSport has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee Laredo.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Cherokee.

The Passport Elite handles at .79 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 pulls only .60 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Passport is 4.4 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee, making the Passport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Passport has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (114.9 vs. 107).

The Passport has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 37.7 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 70.8 cubic feet).

The Passport’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Passport’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

If the windows are left open on the Passport the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Passport has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

Consumer Reports rated the Passport’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Grand Cherokee’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.