We're tentatively looking at a Honda SUV which the Mrs. will primarily drive. She's driven Honda for a couple decades and likes the brand.

We had been considering the Pilot but the Passport caught my eye. More stylish it seems.

But they honestly seem redundant. Same features it seems.

Is one preferable over the other?

thnx

Google "honda passport vs pilot".

My layman understanding of the major difference is that the Pilot is on the Ridgeline frame and the Passport is on the Accord frame.

The passport just had a fairly major redesign - looks completely different than the outgoing model, and more "offroad" focused chops, since that's what all the cool kids want these days

We have a 2019 passport - solid vehicle for the money. Not gonna win any beauty awards (new model looks better imo)

Biggest different between pilot is no 3rd row, which is why we went with the passport. It was 90% of an Acura MDX which we've had a couple. Same drivetrain, same amazing AWD.

I haven't compared pricing, guessing they both get up to around 60K depending on trim/options, but the absence of the 3rd row was our motivator

Short version
Pilot = 3 row
Passport = 2 row

I always thought they were roughly the same vehicle from the front to the rear doors.

Per Wiki, at least for the 3rd gen Passport, it's based on the Pilot platform minus the 3rd row.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...eration_(YF7/8;_2018)

quote:

Unlike previous generations, it was designed in the United States and is manufactured in Lincoln, Alabama alongside the Honda Pilot. It is based on the third-generation Honda Pilot, although the Passport is shorter in length and loses the Pilot's third-row seating. The Passport slots between the smaller CR-V and longer Pilot, filling the gap left when the Honda Crosstour was discontinued after the 2015 model year.

I'd assume the 4th gen [which looks significantly better IMO] would be the same

The Car Care Nut likes the current Pilot much more than the current Passport. He has videos on both.

The new redisigned and unreleased 2026 Passport is "styled" a lot more utility than the current model. So that one remains to be seen.

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
Google "honda passport vs pilot".

Thanks. I've done that and will even test drive both, of course.

But I trust and value the opinions of members of SF and consider it a valuable source of information. Google reviews can be iffy.

quote:

Originally posted by trickedtrix:
The passport just had a fairly major redesign - looks completely different than the outgoing model

Redesign for 2026? Outgoing is 2025? For clarification.

If the above is accurate, then it would be prudent to wait? Will the tariff boycotts impact the release of the new models like Covid affected auto manufacturing?

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:

quote:

Originally posted by trickedtrix:
The passport just had a fairly major redesign - looks completely different than the outgoing model

Redesign for 2026? Outgoing is 2025? For clarification.

If the above is accurate, then it would be prudent to wait? Will the tariff boycotts impact the release of the new models like Covid affected auto manufacturing?

The 4th gen Passport will be a MY26
A 2025 would be the current model, I believe.
I'd expect new ones to start hitting dealer lots sometime around Q3.

Exercise caution with it being a new model. First year bugs & such.

I’m your huckleberry. I bought a 2026 Passport Trailsport Elite last week. I cross-shopped it against the Pilot and a half-dozen other vehicles.

As noted, the Passport is two-row, the Pilot is three. The new Passport is quite different from the old one, and different than the Pilot. It gets a new V6 and a new ten speed auto tranny compared to the old Passport. It’s widely regarded as a better powertrain. The Passport Trailsport comes with A/T tires (General Grabbers). It also gets slightly more lift and larger tires. The secret sauce is that the new one has multiple clutch packs that allow different terrain modes. Haven’t had a chance to try those out yet.

I’m continually impressed with how well equipped the Elite is. It’s decked out for a Honda: pano roof, rain sensing wipers, heated windshield, heated mirrors, heated steering wheel. Heated/cooled power front seats, heated rear seats. Rear sun shades. Auto headlights and all the electro-nannies you could want. Acoustic glass in the front, which is usually reserved for the MDX.

Rear seat room is good and was a big consideration for me. My son is 6’2” and my daughter is 5’10”. They fit back there fine. Giving up the third row, they made the 2nd row roomier. Winning.

You’re not going to Moab in it, but you can probably go anywhere else. It has no selectable low gear or locking rear axle or crawl gear (though it does have a hill-descent gear).

I’m also surprised at how quiet it is, especially with 31” A/T’s on it. Has good road manners. A little soft, but that’s not terrible.

It’s clearly aimed at the 4Runner, and is a considerably better value. Mine was $55k. That’ll get you a 4Runner with a turbo-four and Bilsteins, no hybrid. It really depends on whether you intend to go off road with it or need a third row. If not or you do, the Pilot is probably a better pick. But it really doesn’t give up much to the Pilot.

Insofar as tariffs are concerned, I was told that Honda will not give a price on anything that isn’t currently on the lot, so if you want to wait for a particular color combo, you may pay more. That was actually a big factor in my decision (I wanted the brown interior like everyone else, but settled for the gray one rather than take the chance).

The new Passport in Trailsport trim is our target vehicle, but it is out of our price range right now. We currently have a ‘16 RAV4 SE AWD and ‘24 Subaru Forester Wilderness, and we were thinking of trading both in for one. However, we are house hunting, so any plan is on hold until that’s over.

This new Passport, as mentioned above, is all new and more off-road capable. It has a V6 and a real transmission, unlike a boxer 4 and a CVT as my Forester. I can see the Passport going the distance as one of our last vehicles.

quote:

Originally posted by Milliron:
It gets a new V6 and a new ten speed auto tranny compared to the old Passport. It’s widely regarded as a better powertrain.

On this point, I've heard almost nothing but complaints about the 9 speed auto in the Pilot/Passport.
Good to know they went to the 10 which I've also heard is significantly improved.

My daughter works service at a Honda dealer and she just texted me that the new 2026 Passport just came into her dealership yesterday. I had told her i wanted to look into a Passport to replace my 2016 4Runner with 304k miles. A few gorgeous colors in the lineup, but it has to be as functional or more than the 4runner for me to make the switch. I am interested in the TrailSport trim level at least initially.

Mazda did this with the CX-90 and CX-70. The latter is just the same as the CX-90 but with two rows instead of three.
The new (2026 MY) Passport has the same body, engine, transmission as the 2024-on Pilot, which got much much better off-road capability in the TrailSport model. I was looking seriously at the Pilot in 2024 when I decided to try the CX-90 for its PHEV drivetrain. Otherwise I'm a big Honda fan.

quote:

Originally posted by PghPI:
My daughter works service at a Honda dealer and she just texted me that the new 2026 Passport just came into her dealership yesterday. I had told her i wanted to look into a Passport to replace my 2016 4Runner with 304k miles. A few gorgeous colors in the lineup, but it has to be as functional or more than the 4runner for me to make the switch. I am interested in the TrailSport trim level at least initially.

I was dead-set on a 4Runner. The new one is pretty nice and has a lot of cool features and colors. But Toyota honestly screwed the pooch by releasing the Land Cruiser first. The only powertrain I’d be interested in for a 4Runner is the hybrid. Not paying $60k for a four-banger. The problem is the LC has the same hybrid powertrain, but is still $60k for the bare-bones version. Toyota is clearly having trouble sourcing batteries for the hybrid engine, and there aren’t enough to go around.

So what you have is 50+ LC’s sitting on the lot because it’s not a very good value (the upper trim, when you can find it, is $70k and still not as kitted out as the Passport) and every new 4Runner is shipping with the turbo-four only because the LC got all the batteries. Clearly Toyota thought everyone was going to rush for the LC. Now they’re marking them down.

quote:

Originally posted by Milliron:

quote:

Originally posted by PghPI:
My daughter works service at a Honda dealer and she just texted me that the new 2026 Passport just came into her dealership yesterday. I had told her i wanted to look into a Passport to replace my 2016 4Runner with 304k miles. A few gorgeous colors in the lineup, but it has to be as functional or more than the 4runner for me to make the switch. I am interested in the TrailSport trim level at least initially.

I was dead-set on a 4Runner. The new one is pretty nice and has a lot of cool features and colors. But Toyota honestly screwed the pooch by releasing the Land Cruiser first. The only powertrain I’d be interested in for a 4Runner is the hybrid. Not paying $60k for a four-banger. The problem is the LC has the same hybrid powertrain, but is still $60k for the bare-bones version. Toyota is clearly having trouble sourcing batteries for the hybrid engine, and there aren’t enough to go around.

So what you have is 50+ LC’s sitting on the lot because it’s not a very good value (the upper trim, when you can find it, is $70k and still not as kitted out as the Passport) and every new 4Runner is shipping with the turbo-four only because the LC got all the batteries. Clearly Toyota thought everyone was going to rush for the LC. Now they’re marking them down.

Agreed
! LC's at the dealer where I had last oil change had the LC's marked down 6-8% from sticker.

I guess I should clarify that I would probably replace my 2016 with a 2023-24 clean used one with low miles. To me thats just as good as new.

I had both as dealership rentals when I was getting some OEM mods done to my Ridgeline.

The first thing is the space, evaluate if you even need the larger size of the Pilot.

I can tell you this..the Pilot drove like exactly what it is, a boat to me. In contrast, the Passport was like my Ridgeline, handled phenom with the SH-AWD system (same as Acura but they don’t brand the AWD that way on Hondas, same shit though). More nimble, better in the corners, just felt like a completely different and better vehicle. I’d go Passport all day but if it’s her ride, let her choose.

We have a ‘21 Passport for the wife, she loves it. I am driving her old Pilot 2011, running good.

We bought a new 2005 Honda Pilot and ran it for ~225k trouble-free miles, and replaced it with a 2022 Honda Passport Trailsport as we did not need the third row.

So far so good!

Drives nice, good comfort and power, not crazy with electronic gadgetry, and has a very open / expansive forward looking view.

I bought a 2024 Pilot Trailsport 16 months ago and love it.

I looked at both the Passport and Pilot.

For model year 2024, the Passport Trailsport had a mini spare tire, no skid plates, the 9 speed transmission and a few other things that drove me to choose the Pilot over the Passport.

Both are great vehicles, I just wanted to have the third row, I like the idea of the full-size spare and the skid plates, for all those times when am off-road.......read likely never.

Two weeks ago I was at Honda East for routine service, and I saw the Passport Milliron referencd above.

The new Passport Trailsport Elite is an incredibly sharp looking Honda, IMO, even better looking than the Pilot.

Had the Passport Trailsport Elite been available last year when I bought my Pilot, it would have been a tough choice.

All that said, I do love my Pilot Trailsport.

Good luck and let us know what you choose.

As an aside, my wife bought a 2024 CRV Sport L Hybrid 2 days after I bought my Pilot. IMO, the CRV offers a lot for the price. I like all the creature comforts my Pilot has, but I am always happy to drive the CRV as well.

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