Honda Pilot vs. Passport: Which SUV Is the Best?
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
If you are a Honda fan looking for a roomy family crossover SUV, Honda offers you two outstanding choices larger than its top-selling CR-V. I just had to test both for myself to see how they line up.
The Pilot has three rows and is widely considered a benchmark in its segment. Honda also offers the two-row Passport.
Although the number of rows is the primary difference between these two, there is more to the story.
Table of Contents
Honda Pilot vs. Passport Comparison
Pilot | Passport |
|
| Number of Seats | ||
| Length/Width/Height (Includes Mirrors and Roof Bars) | ||
| Wheelbase Length | ||
| Minimum Ground Clearance | ||
| Passenger Volume | ||
| Cargo Volume (Behind Third Row/Second Row/First Row) | (only has 2 rows) |
|
| Towing Capacity | ||
| Engine Horsepower | ||
| Spare Tire |
Is the Honda Pilot Right For You?
The Pilot was intended mostly as an all-weather, three-row family vehicle. The Pilot competes quite successfully against the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer in a segment that is very important to automakers.
Those who don’t want a minivan often look to the Pilot and find the perfect vehicle for their needs.
Is the Honda Passport Right For You?
The Honda Passport is not just a two-row Pilot, though there are many similarities on the specification page. Honda built the Passport to fill two roles:
The Passport is more off-road capable than any other Honda, arguably even more rugged than the Ridgeline pickup, which is no creampuff. - Honda wanted to offer shoppers a two-row SUV with outstanding cargo capability and towing ability that went beyond the CR-V’s capabilities.
Honda achieved both goals and has made good use of the shared platform to offer shoppers a choice they would otherwise not have had.
The Tale of the Tape
Both the Honda Pilot and Passport are available in either front or all-wheel drive. Our specifications above all list the AWD versions. At a glance, it is easy to see that the Pilot is a longer vehicle. The third row adds about six inches of length overall. The Pilot also has a larger overall cargo volume with both rear seat rows folded. However, 101 cubic feet is a LOT of space, and the Passport feels massive inside when you drop its second row to do some cargo hauling.
The Passport has a bit more ground clearance than the Pilot. In fact, it has more than the Ridgeline pickup does. I felt like I could easily access the undercarriage if I needed to. Those who head down some access roads to boat launches will appreciate that.
Also, the Passport has better approach and departure angles than the Pilot. That means it can go up and down steeper slopes.
Pricing
In 2WD, both the Pilot and Passport start at just under $34K, including destination charges. All-wheel drive trims start at just under $36K.
The EX-L trim is well-known to most Honda fans and owners. It is the “value trim” in the Honda lineup. The EX-L AWD Passport has a price of $39,985, and the EX-L AWD Pilot has a price of $41,835. The top trim Passport Elite has a price of $45,355, and the top trim Pilot Black Edition has a price of $51,395.
As you might have guessed, the extra size and added row aren’t free in the Pilot.
Current Honda Pilot & Passport Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Honda deals here.
EPA Fuel Economy
The Honda Passport and Pilot have nearly identical fuel economy numbers. The Passport has a 1 MPG disadvantage over the Pilot. The AWD Pilot is rated at 22 MPG, and the AWD Passport has a 21 MPG Combined rating. The FWD trims have a slightly higher rating.
Notable is that neither the Passport nor Pilot have a hybrid powertrain like the Toyota Highlander does.
Safety
Neither the Pilot nor Passport have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award in 2021. The problem is that both have only an “Acceptable” rating for a key crash test, the small frontal overlap passenger-side test. Each model comes standard with active driver-assist technology, including automatic emergency braking.
Which Is Better, The Honda Pilot or Passport?
Shoppers interested in a two-row SUV from Honda will find the Passport to be larger and more off-road capable than the CR-V.
Those shoppers who need a three-row SUV with either seven or eight seats will find the Pilot fits the bill.
