Cadillac's midsize luxury crossover delivers on space and quietness but trails the segment in cabin refinement and tech polish. The exterior still looks sharp, and if you need three rows of seating with a premium badge, it checks that box without fuss. The interior materials and infotainment, though, feel a generation behind Lexus and the Germans, acceptable for daily hauling, underwhelming if you're cross-shopping aggressively. The 2024 transmission hiccups have been addressed, but the XT5's bigger problem is that it's standing still while competitors sprint ahead. Buy it if you're a Cadillac loyalist who values space over cutting-edge design. Skip it if you expect your luxury SUV to feel modern past the first lease cycle.
Honda finally built the off-road SUV it should've made years ago, boxy, capable, and $10-15k cheaper than a 4Runner while driving better on pavement. The 2026 redesign nails the look with aggressive styling and backs it up with real hardware: 8.3 inches of ground clearance, steel skid plates, and an AWD system that'll handle more trail than most owners will ever see. The naturally aspirated V6 is a proven workhorse in a segment going turbo-four. But you're paying for that capability at the pump, owners report 17-20 mpg in mixed driving, and that 19-gallon tank means gas stops every 300 miles. The 10-speed transmission is a lottery: some units shift smoothly, others buck and hunt constantly, and dealers say that's normal. If you can stomach feeding it premium and frequent fill-ups, and you value Honda's reputation over a hybrid powertrain, the Passport delivers genuine adventure capability without the 4Runner's penalty box interior or dated tech. If fuel economy matters or you want buttery-smooth power delivery, the CR-V Hybrid is sitting right there in the showroom.