Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 Honda Passport vs. The Competition

The new Honda Passport and Chevrolet Blazer head to dealerships in early 2019 to challenge established players from Ford and Nissan. Although they’ve been in the game for a while, the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano are far from old, as both have been refreshed for 2019. The question is: Which midsize crossover has the most compelling design?

Some criticize the 2019 Honda Passport for looking too similar to the larger Pilot. But there are key design differences, and the most prominent are up front. The Passport features a black grille and bumper for a rugged look. The Blazer’s front end is equally bold, borrowing cues from the Camaro. It features slim, Camaro-like headlights that flow into a gaping grille. Take a look at the front end of the Edge, and it looks pretty conventional with an average-sized grille separated from the simple headlights. ST models feature a bolder look with a unique black mesh grille and other updates. You could argue the Murano has the quirkiest design, with a bulbous front end and daytime running lights that jut out from the standard headlight housing.

The Passport looks a lot like a shrunken Pilot when viewed from the side. It has more ground clearance, however, plus it gets a very subtle floating roof design. The Blazer has a slightly bolder floating roof, formed by the rear door kicking up sharply as it gets closer to the roof. A long hood and bold character lines complete the look. The Edge looks decidedly not edgy, opting for a simple design with clean lines and subtle wheel arches. Meanwhile, the Murano dons a very bold floating roof and irregular character lines running through the doors. The Murano’s curvaceous look continues from the front end to the side.

From the rear, the Passport continues its adventure theme. It has a bold window spoiler and prominent bumper, in addition to black tailgate garnish. There are also triangular-shaped taillights. The Blazer features slim taillights with an interesting arrow-like lighting signature. The Edge’s back end sits upright, and a black trim piece connects the taillights and blends into the window. On the Murano, boomerang-shaped taillights stand out on an otherwise ordinary back end.

The Passport’s interior looks a little less rugged than its exterior. A 5-inch display is standard, but higher trims come with an 8-inch unit. This model also gets gloss black trim and an electronic shifter. The Blazer tries to adopt a sporty look. Bold color choices like the red and black theme pictured here are available. Plus, there are round air vents and a padded knee area. Notably, an 8-inch screen is standard. Edges get a standard rotary gear shift and a standard 4.2-inch screen, although an 8-inch unit is available. Arguably, the center console looks a bit dated with a large space dedicated to physical buttons instead of the touchscreen. Meanwhile, the Murano has a standard 8-inch display. There are some interesting options, including leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts as well as “wood-tone” trim.

So which midsize crossover looks the best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments on Facebook.

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