Bob Boyte Honda - 2026 Honda Passport or Jeep Grand Cherokee: Which Two-Row SUV Gives You More Traction on Wet Roads in Flowood, MS?
Drivers who live with afternoon showers, slick intersections, and the occasional gravel cut-through naturally ask: which two-row SUV feels more secure when the weather turns, Passport or Grand Cherokee? The answer starts with the systems beneath your feet. Honda’s Second-Generation i-VTM4® AWD System in the Passport is tuned to respond quickly and transparently, channeling torque where it’s needed without drama. Jeep® brings three available 4x4 systems, Selec-Terrain®, and available Quadra-Lift® Air Suspension on the Grand Cherokee for serious configurability. Both approaches have merit. But for daily rain-soaked commutes and sudden standing water, the Passport’s balance of fast-acting, torque-distributing AWD and a chassis that communicates grip makes it the choice we recommend for confidence on real streets and real schedules.
Consider the way each model supports you before and during the moment traction gets tricky. The Passport includes Honda Sensing® standard across the lineup, so Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist System arrive on every build. Add TrailWatch™ for low-speed visibility that helps when water muddies ruts and curbs, and the Passport makes seeing and reacting easier in tight quarters. The Grand Cherokee counters with broad standard and available technology suites including Active Driving Assist and a 360º Surround View Camera, plus a newly standard 12.3-inch Uconnect® 5 NAV touchscreen. Those features are advanced and welcome, especially for buyers who want deeper customization or longer-trip luxury touches. For the day-to-day, however, the Honda’s direct, predictable response is what many drivers count on when brake lights stack up in the rain.
- AWD behavior in the rain: i-VTM4® helps the Passport rotate naturally into wet corners and limit front push, while Jeep® 4x4 systems provide selectable modes for surface changes.
- Everyday visibility: TrailWatch™ offers low-speed camera views for curbs, berms, and trail washouts; the Grand Cherokee’s 360º camera is excellent for parking-lot confidence and tight city maneuvers.
- Standard safety coverage: Honda Sensing® is included on every Passport, reducing guesswork at build time; the Grand Cherokee offers numerous safety and security features across trims, many of which are available or trim-dependent.
- Road feel and control: The Passport’s available Off-Road Tuned Suspension is calm and composed on broken pavement, while Grand Cherokee’s available Quadra-Lift® can adapt ride height to conditions.
When you stitch this together into a typical week in Flowood, wet-weather confidence is about what the SUV does without asking you to think about it. That is where the Passport feels sorted. You do not need to toggle through multiple modes to find your footing, and the wheel remains reassuringly steady as grip comes and goes. Jeep’s configurability is a strong play for specialized trips or frequent backcountry runs, and drivers who want a more tech-forward cockpit will value the Grand Cherokee’s display ecosystem. Yet if your world is stop-and-go, school pickup, and the occasional muddy construction detour, the way the Passport shoulders through rain and rebounds on rough patches is hard to beat.
We also hear a layered version of the same question: what if you face both daily rain and a few long road trips each year? The Passport’s relaxed, linear throttle and transmission tuning make highway miles feel unrushed, while the AWD system remains poised when storms pop up. Jeep® brings long-range strengths and trail-standing pedigree, and if you routinely plan high-clearance trails, its available Quadra-Drive® II with a rear electronic limited-slip differential is formidable. Still, for most families who want a consistent, confident feel in town and a calm demeanor on the interstate, the Passport’s formula—simple, strong, steady—wins the day.
Bob Boyte Honda is serving Madison, Flowood, and Vicksburg with a test-drive approach built around your questions. We will walk you through i-VTM4® operation, show TrailWatch™ visibility in a real parking lot, and talk through how Honda Sensing® supports you when the wipers are sweeping. If you are weighing the Passport against the Grand Cherokee, bring your everyday routes and let us map out how the hardware feels at each step. Your traction confidence starts with what the SUV does in the first 10 feet after the light turns green—and that is where the Passport shines.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does the Passport’s i-VTM4® require driver input to handle rain or slick roads?
No. i-VTM4® is designed to operate automatically, sending torque where it is needed to help you maintain control when surfaces are wet or uneven.
How does TrailWatch™ help in everyday driving, not just off-road?
TrailWatch™ offers camera views at low speed that are useful for flooded curbs, tight drive-thru lanes, or construction-rutted side streets—places where seeing edges and obstacles matters.
