Which High-End Trim Comes Out on Top: The 2024 Ford Edge or Honda Passport?

Comparisons between the Ford Edge and the Honda Passport are inevitable. In a world where three-row SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, the 2024 Ford Edge and the 2024 Honda Passport are midsize 5-passenger SUVs that offer occupants plenty of room, regardless of which seat they select. It’s not uncommon for folks who are looking for a Ford Edge for sale to also take a look at the Honda Passport. Any SUV is a big investment, and shopping for what you want is important.

However, if you’re a top-trim kind of driver, this article might save you a little time shopping. We’ve taken the opportunity to compare the trim levels to each other, and each time, the Ford Edge came out on top. One case in which the differences are exceptionally clear is each manufacturer’s top trim. For the 2024 Edge, this is the Titanium model. The top trim offered in the 2024 Passport lineup is the Black Edition. Take a look at these two SUVs to see why drivers prefer the Ford Edge Titanium over the Honda Passport Black Edition.

A Closer Look at Power and Performance

Generally speaking, the midsized 5-passenger SUV class is not known for speed and performance, though the Edge ST challenges that idea with its powerful V6 engine. Unfortunately, Ford has not made the V6 available to the Titanium trim (yet). The 2024 Ford Edge still has plenty of pep in its acceleration, though. Powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, the Edge Titanium model offers 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

Admittedly, the 2024 Honda Passport has a larger and more powerful engine with its 3.5L V6, which pumps up the horsepower to 280 hp. Torque is significantly less, though, at 262 lb-ft. However, with greater power comes a greater charge at the gas pump. The Edge Titanium manages a comfortable 21 MPG on city streets and 28 MPG on the highway. The Passport Black Edition provides 19 MPG in the city and just 24 MPG on the highway. 

Both vehicles feature standard all-wheel drive, which drivers appreciate for greater traction and torque on rugged or slippery surfaces. While the Honda Passport offers an Intelligent Traction Management system that can be selected for Snow, Sand, and Mud conditions, the Edge has advanced sensors that constantly monitor the need for traction. As a result, it comes with a Sport Mode instead that allows for a little more excitement from the throttle and suspension.

What About the Overall Behind-the-Wheel Experience?

While understanding what we have under the hood and how much we can expect to pay at the gas pump is all well and good, most drivers select the top trims because of the improved overall experience. When it comes to comfort, everything starts with seating. The 2024 Edge has an extraordinarily roomy interior, with an extra inch of rear legroom over the Honda Passport. It also includes reclining and heated ActiveX trimmed front sport bucket seats, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and memory functions. Passengers fear not—the front passenger seat offers 6-way power adjustments. The Edge’s second row features 60/40 split fold-flat seats that also recline. The Titanium trim allows these seats to be stowed almost instantly with the second-row EasyFold Seat system.

The 2024 Passport also offers 60/40 split-fold second-row seats with One-Touch Fold. The rear seats do not recline, but the outboard seats are heated. This is an available option in the Edge Titanium, along with heated and ventilated front seats, which the Passport also includes. Whether you prefer the Black Edition’s red-stitched leather-trimmed seating over the easy-care, stain-resistant ActiveX of the Titanium is a matter of preference, but it is worth noting front passengers are limited to 4-way adjustments in the Passport’s seats. 

Both models offer a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but only the Edge’s version is heated. Both the Titanium and the Black Edition also include standard hands-free power tailgate entry to the cargo space, automatic dimming rearview mirrors, ambient lighting (blue in the Titanium and red in the Black Edition), and remote start systems. 

Tech and Safety Features

When drivers purchase the top trim of a particular vehicle, they want to know that they are investing in the best of the best. Whether you are more interested in cutting-edge technology or the latest and greatest safety features, the top trim should include the best that the manufacturer can provide.

There are several things that drivers prefer about the Edge Titanium over the Passport Black Edition. First, there’s the touchscreen infotainment interface. All Ford Edge models include a 12-inch tablet-style screen that’s carefully centered for the driver’s convenience. All Honda Passport models, including the top-tier Black Edition, have a smaller 8-inch color touchscreen. While the Edge Titanium plays your favorite cruising tunes through a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with a subwoofer, the Passport Black Edition has an unspecified 540-watt 10-speaker system. 

Then there’s the matter of connectivity. The Edge Titanium includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, along with a wireless charging pad and FordPass 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Honda’s Black Edition has a wireless phone charger and Wi-Fi hotspot capability, but the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet wireless. 

When it comes to safety and driver assistance technology, the 2024 Edge and 2024 Passport are on a pretty even playing field. Both include standard necessities like blind spot monitoring, forward collision assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. The Titanium model already offers quite a bit, but drivers have the choice to make their Edge even…edgier.

The first option is the Titanium Elite Package, which mostly adds a significant amount of chrome around the exterior of the Edge. The second is the Lux Package, known officially as Equipment Group 301. This package adds extra everything, from safety features such as a 180-degree front camera with a split view to technology like adaptive LED headlights to a Panoramic Vista Roof, which adds light, air, and ambiance to your drive. Unfortunately, Honda does not offer optional packages for the 2024 Passport. While it does already have the front ventilated and rear heated seats that Equipment Group 301 adds to the Edge, none of the rest of the features from that package are offered on the Passport at all.

The Ford Edge Titanium Simply Offers Drivers More

Some of the differences between the 2024 Ford Edge Titanium and the 2024 Honda Passport might seem pretty subjective. After all, who’s to say whether blue or red ambient lighting is better?  While the Edge Titanium has a greater number of overall creature comforts, it is arguable whether a driver actually needs them in order to operate the vehicle.

For many drivers, though, the right SUV is the one that provides the best value. While the Honda Passport Black Edition may have a more powerful engine, it is also more expensive than the Edge Titanium, both in national average retail price and at the fuel pump. When you consider the many similarities between the two models, it might seem a little unusual to pay more for an overall less-equipped vehicle.

Shopping for a top-trim vehicle requires extra deliberation for many drivers, as it’s important to know that the extra price is worth it. The 2024 Ford Edge Titanium not only makes the price worth it, but it also offers additional choices that make it the ideal choice for drivers looking for extra luxury and innovation in their next SUV.