GM's stylish electric crossover delivers genuinely fun acceleration, a roomy cabin, and smooth highway manners, but the 2024 launch was a mess of software bugs and quality hiccups that sent early adopters back to dealers repeatedly. By 2025 most gremlins were squashed, leaving a handsome EV that undercuts the Cadillac Lyriq by $15k while sharing its platform. The tradeoffs: it charges slower than the Hyundai/Kia twins, locks you into Google's infotainment with no CarPlay escape, and a troubling number of owners report coolant leaks on vehicles barely a year old. Steep used-market discounts make lightly used 2025+ models tempting if you can live without CarPlay and don't mind the charging speed penalty. Skip any 2024 unless the price is irresistible and you enjoy surprise service appointments.
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.