UPDATE: 2026/08/02 12:35 EST BY BELINDA ANDERSON
The Depreciation Factor Affects Your Purchasing Decisions Now
We’ve added more context to which of these two models depreciate at the highest rate in order to help you decide which of these Hondas is the better buy right now.
The midsize SUV segment is booming, with family-oriented buyers looking for reliable, reasonably priced offerings that suit their lifestyle. Honda has two main competitors in the segment, and with the same V6 under the hood, similar proportions, and even similar pricing, it comes down to the different lifestyles each one represents: one is purpose-built for the larger family and hauling tons of stuff, while the other is more focused on weekend fun-runs and mild practicality.
If you’re trying to find a winner in the Honda Passport vs Pilot battle, it won’t come down to performance or even costs—it’s more about how many seats you actually need.
All data, specs, and pricing are from the automaker, and are correct at the time of writing. The automaker may change or update this at any time. This is an on-paper comparison of the Honda Passport vs Pilot that includes test-drive experience, where available.
Honda Passport vs Honda Pilot: 2026 Specs Compared
2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Orange Front ViewHonda2026 Honda Pilot frontJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
The Japanese automaker offers just three midsize SUVs in the USA right now, and one of those is on its way to retirement. That leaves just two: the Honda Pilot and the Honda Passport. These two SUVs aren’t worlds apart, with the Pilot’s starting MSRP at $42,395 and showing stable price trends, while the Passport starts at $44,950. Both models have seven trims on offer, but it’s the Pilot that can cost the most at the top of the range. Here’s how the lineups compare for 2026:
2026 Pilot Trims and MSRP
2026 Passport Trims And MSRP
Sport
$42,395
RTL
$44,950
EX-L
$44,695
RTL Towing
$45,650
TrailSport
$50,595
RTL Blackout
$46,150
Touring
$51,295
TrailSport
$48,650
Touring Blackout
$52,495
TrailSport Blackout
$49,850
Elite
$53,695
TrailSport Elite
$52,650
Black Edition
$55,195
TrailSport Elite Blackout
$53,850
With pricing relatively similar across the lineup, what other differences are there to consider that may show up a winner in the Passport vs Pilot debate?
Performance, Dimensions, And Off-Road Comparison
There is no engine difference between the Honda Pilot and Passport, as both make use of the brand’s 3.5-liter V6. The power plant makes 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, and uses a 10-speed automatic to lay down power. The first major difference is that while the entire Passport lineup gets all-wheel drive as standard, the Pilot has front-wheel drive as standard on its base models, while upper trims get AWD. Towing capacity for the Pilot maxes out at 5,000 pounds with AWD, while the FWD models can haul 3,500 lbs. All Passports can pull 5,000 lbs max.
If you’re wondering whether the Honda Pilot or Passport is bigger, it’s the former: the Passport is the smaller SUV, with an overall length of 191.5 inches over a 113.6-inch wheelbase. The Pilot is just over 200 inches long and has a fractionally longer wheelbase of 113.8 inches. Despite being shorter in length, the Passport is wider by an inch and also stands taller at 73.1 inches off the ground—it also has the best ground clearance at 8.3 inches to the Pilot’s 7.3 inches.
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When it comes to off-roading, it’s the Passport that comes out on top, with standard approach and departure angles of 23 degrees and 27.1 degrees, respectively, although some trims have slightly diminished departure angles. The Pilot, at best, has 18.3/21.1 degrees for approach and departure, even though both models have a rugged TrailSport trim.
TrailSport models have an off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, protective skid plates, and advanced all-wheel drive with trail torque logic and off-road modes for enhanced traction and control.
Real-World Ownership Costs
2026 Honda Pilot engineJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
The most efficient Pilot is the FWD model, which earns 19/22/27 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Opting for AWD drops that to 19/25/21 mpg, with the TrailSport faring worst at 18/23/20 mpg. Passports are on par with the AWD gas mileage figures the Pilot gets, and with no FWD option, the Pilot wins on efficiency by default.
But real-world ownership costs also take maintenance and repairs into account. When it comes to expected maintenance over five years, the two SUVs are relatively on par, according to CarEdge. The Pilot’s expected costs come to $2,548 while the Passport is slightly lower at $2,519. In both cases, maintenance costs are lower than the segment average, with just a 10.16% chance of needing a major repair in the first five years of ownership.
The Depreciation Factor
2023 – 2025 Honda Passport exteriorHonda
Buying a Passport or a Pilot in 2026 also represent different investment outcomes in the future, since these models depreciate differently. It’s worth noting that the Honda Pilot retains 52% of its value after five years, while the Passport will hold on to 55% over the same time frame. If you are buying a car now with the aim of reselling or trading in in the near future, this may be important to help you decide which is the better buy.
3-Row Family Hauler vs 2-Row Family Adventurer: Versatiity Comparison
The biggest differences in the Pilot vs Passport showdown can be found on the inside of the SUVs, because the Pilot has three rows of seating while the Passport only has two.
Interior: Honda Pilot vs Honda Passport Interior
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You can seat up to eight in the Pilot, or opt for seven with captain’s chairs in the middle row, while the Passport seats just five. The Pilot may be a little longer, and the Passport a little wider, but when it comes to headroom and legroom, the two SUVs are relatively similar: the three-row Pilot has 40.5 inches of headroom in the front row, 40.2 inches in the second, and 39.3 inches in the back, while the Passport has half an inch more in the second row.
Naturally, the Passport also has a little more legroom across two rows, at 41.1 inches and 40.9 inches, front and rear. The Pilot loses out here, but by small enough margins that it would hardly be noticeable to most.
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Honda Pilot vs Passport cargo space differences are a little more significant. Behind the third row in the Pilot you’ll have 18.6 cubic feet, and folding down the rear seats opens up 48.5 cubic feet. With the second row folded down as well, you get 87 cubic feet. It’s the most spacious of the two SUVs for cargo volume, since the two-row Passport has 44 cubic feet behind its second row, and a total of 83.8 cubic feet with those stowed away.
Feature Comparison Between Passport And Pilot
2026 Honda Pilot interior steering wheelHonda
There’s not much difference between what’s available feature-wise between the Passport and the Pilot, although the trims are very different and what is unlocked at each level varies. Still, the base models of both are budget-focused, and the top-tier models focus all the niceties and creature comforts, including perforated leather seats, heating and ventilation for the front row, a heated steering wheel, and heated second-row seats.
The Honda Sensing safety suite is standard across the board, and when it comes to infotainment, the two SUVs both have a standard 10.2-inch gauge cluster, 12.3-inch color touchscreen for multimedia, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Alexa built in. The only unique feature exclusive to the three-row Pilot is the CabinTalk in-car PA system, which you’ll need if you expect to have noisy passengers in the rear. You also get access to a Bose premium sound system in the top trims, although the Passport only offers it on the most expensive model, while three Pilot trims come standard with it.
Honda Passport vs Honda Pilot: Which One To Buy
2026 Honda Passport Trailsport rear cargo space viewHonda2026 Honda PilotHonda
With the specs and features for the Passport and Pilot being so similar, it really comes down to what lifestyle needs you have to meet. Pricing is barely $2,500 more for the Passport at the entry point of the range, and any meaningful differences come down to three rows of seating versus two.
- Buy the Honda Pilot if you have a large or growing family, regularly ferry larger groups of people around, or need the added flexibility of maximum cargo space above all else.
- Buy the Honda Passport ifyou want AWD as standard, enjoy being slightly more adventurous, and want the most cargo capacity without fussing with a third row of seats.
Sources: Honda, CarEdge, EPA
FAQ
Q: What is the main difference between a Honda Passport and a Honda Pilot?
The main difference is that the Passport has two rows of seating while the Pilot gets three. You can seat five people in the Passport, and up to eight in the Pilot. The Pilot can also be had with FWD while the Passport is AWD only.
Q: Is the new Honda Passport larger than the Pilot?
The Pilot is longer to accommodate three rows of seating, but the Passport is a little wider and stands taller. Overall, the Pilot is the bigger car.
Q: Is the Honda Passport as reliable as the Pilot?
Honda has a reputation for reliability, and as such, both SUVs score highly with JD Power. The Passport gets an 82 out of 100 while the Pilot gets a score of 81.
Q: Is a Honda Pilot more expensive than a Passport?
The base model Pilot is cheaper than the entry-level Passport, but the top-tier Pilot Black Edition is more expensive than the Passpor’s top model.
