As air travel becomes more uncomfortable without a noticeable decrease in price, more of us are becoming road rambling vacationers. We’re in luck too, because the market continues to welcome ever-more-capable SUVs. Adventurous traveler or staycationing family, if you’re in the market for an SUV upgrade, you’ll want to consider comparing the 2022 Ford Edge vs 2022 Honda Passport. So let’s take a look at both!
Passport to Fun, Flexibility, and Freedom
The 2022 Honda Passport has been given a few tweaks to aim it directly at weekend adventure. Specifically, the Sport and Touring trims have been discontinued, replaced by the new, somewhat more sinewy TrailSport trim. The EX-L is now the base trim, which raises the Passport’s base price a bit (to $37,870) but compensates with features such as leather trim, an 8-inch display touchscreen, heated front seats, a seven-speaker stereo system with a subwoofer, and a power moonroof, as well as a choice between FWD and AWD. The AWD Elite trim, at an MSRP of $45,430, is still available, adding a power tailgate with hands-free access, heated outboard seats in the second row, and a ten-speaker premium audio system.
A Very Safe SUV
The Passport, like most Hondas, makes safety a priority. All trims of the 2022 Passport include the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist tech, with features such as a road departure mitigation system, collision mitigation braking system, blind spot information system with cross-traffic monitor, adaptive cruise control, and more.
In addition to the Sensing suite, the 2022 Passport is also equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist, an electronic stability aid that assists in maintaining traction in poor driving conditions and can reduce speed in cornering when needed. These kinds of features have helped the 2022 Passport earn its 5-star NHTSA overall safety rating. Throw in the Electronic Brake Distribution (which applies the brakes where they’re most needed) and Brake Assist (which adds strength to the brakes when you really have to slam them), and you end up with a vehicle you can trust to keep every family member as safe as possible on the road. These are nice features to have when other drivers enter your clear-for-miles lane and stomp on their brakes for no apparent reason.
Back Roads Are Back!
You may have a much greater opportunity to see wildlife if you choose the AWD TrailSport trim. Equipped with 18-inch wheels, sturdier tires, LED fog lights, and Intelligent Traction Management with snow, sand, and mud modes, this trim will allow you to venture into less-charted territory with ease. If you get lost, the TrailSport’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition will help you find your way home––or at least back to the campground. With its 8.1 inches of ground clearance and increased off-road capacity, you can even take a few gentle shortcuts. If all else fails, you can use your HondaLink system, standard in the Passport, to ignominiously summon roadside assistance.
All 2022 Passport trims can be equipped with optional specialized carrying packages for skis, bikes, kayaks, and surfboards, as well as rooftop containers. There’s even an optional tent designed to hook onto the back of your Passport, sure to please the more rain (and possibly bear) averse in your party. With 100.8 cu ft of storage behind the first row of seats and 50.5 cu ft behind the second, there’s plenty of room back there. If you prefer a small travel trailer (or you’re really prone to overpacking), you can increase your AWD Passport’s tow capacity to 5,000 lbs by having your dealer install an ATF cooler accessory.
Life On (and In) The Edge
The 2022 Ford Edge brings some great features of its own to the table. With five different trims and a lot of options, one of those features is clearly freedom of choice. From the base SE trim, starting at $36,145, to the top ST, at $44,945, you’ll find a lot of variation but consistent quality.
The 2022 Edge is equipped with a 250 hp EcoBoost engine in all trims but the ST. With a fuel rating of 23 MPG combined, the Edge’s fuel bill won’t drive you to the edge of panic while you’re out enjoying the open road. Also earning a 5-star NHTSA overall safety rating, the Edge serves as a good demonstration of the extent to which American car manufacturers are catching up to their foreign competition in the realm of safety concerns.
All 2022 Edge trims come with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite, which includes pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, which can spot pedestrians or vehicles in front of you, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, which warns you of cars in your blind spots with a light in your side mirror, a lane-keeping system, and more. Like the Passport, the Edge has an electronic stability control system and a rearview backup camera. It also has a 12-inch touchscreen, standard on all trims.
Edge Extras
The 2022 Edge brings its own additional safety elements, such as the Personal Safety System, which enables the vehicle to instantaneously note the need for, and apply, differing airbag deployment or the use of other safety systems (such as pretensioners) based on the type of crash and type of passenger, in order to decrease airbag-related injuries. In addition, the Edge can help attract the attention of passersby or emergency services with the SOS Post-Crash Alert System, which honks the horn and flashes the turn signals after any crash that deploys an airbag. Features such as knee airbags and post-collision braking (which gives your Edge the potential to reduce damage and injuries by automatically braking after a hard collision) add significantly to the Edge’s safety profile.
Enjoy Comfort Without Losing Your Edge
The Edge is well-connected and comfortable, even in the base SE trim. All trims are equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Ford’s SYNC 4A connectivity suite. In addition, you’ll have a home-away-from-home workstation with the FordPass Connect LTE 4G hotspot, which provides WiFi access up to 50 ft from your Edge for as many as ten devices. In the right location, everyone can work or play online!
Additional features, such as a spacious back seat with 60 inches of shoulder room and 40.6 inches of legroom, dual-zone climate control, and the option of a dual-headrest DVD entertainment system, will ensure that the whole family is comfortable and entertained, no matter how many delays you might encounter in your travels.
The Trims
The SEL throws in a few more comfort and style-related items, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and a four-way power passenger seat. Other additions include an auto-dimming rearview mirror and LED fog lamps. With this trim, you can also consider several optional packages, such as Ford CoPilot Assist+ (available in all trims but the SE). This safety package includes adaptive cruise control, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and evasive steering assist (adding power to your steering capability when the Edge senses you need to quickly avoid something).
The luxurious Titanium adds a hands-free, foot-activated liftgate, a Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker stereo system with a subwoofer, a remote starter, rain-sensing wipers, optional park assist, and a 180-degree camera. In the ST-Line trim, you’ll find sporty accents, 20-inch wheels, fog lights, and a perimeter alarm. All Edge trims have various cargo packages available, and the new-for-2022 Black Appearance package, which adds various black notes to the exterior, is now available in the SE trim.
Go Further, Faster, and Bring More Stuff
If you prefer more power and a peppier drive, the top ST trim is your best choice. Why? Because in this trim level, you’ll find a 2.7L, 335 hp EcoBoost V6 twin-turbo engine. The ST also sports 20-inch wheels (unless you opt for the Performance Brake package, which has 21 in wheels and adds oomph to your braking power), heated leather seats, a Panoramic Vista Roof, and the aforementioned Bang & Olufsen stereo system. The ST includes a trailering package (optional on the SEL and Titanium trims) with trailer sway control that will let you haul 3500 lbs.
Is Ford or Honda Right for You?
Which vehicle is right for you? If you need more towage, perhaps you’ll select the Passport TrailSport trim. If you travel with kids (or adults) who won’t leave their movies and games behind, the Edge might be your SUV. But whichever vehicle you select––and choosing between the 2022 Honda Passport vs 2022 Ford Edge isn’t necessarily an easy choice––you’ll be able to cruise the freeways, the back roads, and even the backcountry in safety and comfort.
