If you’re browsing at your local dealership and see a Honda Passport and a Honda Pilot for sale side by side, you’d be forgiven for not knowing the differences between the two models. While the latest redesign of the Passport has helped make it more visually distinct from the Pilot, they are both still midsize SUVs from the same brand. But step inside, and you’ll find plenty of things that make each model distinct. Today, we’re going to help you tell these SUVs apart so you can decide which one is right for you. We’ll be looking at the latest model of each at the time of writing: the 2025 Pilot and 2026 Passport.
Two-Row vs Three-Row
We’ll kick things off with the main difference between these SUVs: the Pilot has three rows of seating, while the Passport has two. If you need to seat more than five people in your vehicle, you’ll want to go with the Pilot, which can seat seven with second-row captain’s chairs or eight with a second-row bench seat, both of which are available depending on the trim level you choose. Zooming in on the first and second rows of each SUV, you’ll find that they’re mostly pretty similar, with virtually the same legroom, headroom, and shoulder room, differing only by fractions of an inch where they differ at all.
When it comes to passenger comfort, the two models offer similar features. Both have standard heated front seats across the lineup, with heated second-row outboard seats on higher trims. Both also have standard tri-zone automatic climate control. Up front, you’ll find a standard 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support. However, while the 2025 Pilot doesn’t have two-position memory on the base trim, it’s standard across the board on the 2026 Passport.
Cargo Space Differences
The Pilot is over eight inches longer than the Passport. Naturally, it offers more cargo volume, though it’s closer than you might think. With all but the front row of seats folded, the Pilot has up to 87 cu.ft. of cargo volume, while the Passport has up to 83.8 cu.ft. of space. While the 44 cubic feet of cargo volume you’ll find behind the second row of seating in the Passport is less than the 48.5 cu.ft. behind the second row of the Pilot, it is more than double the 18.6 cu.ft. behind the third row of the Pilot, meaning that the Passport has more cargo volume available when all of its passenger space is occupied.
Both models offer a power tailgate with hands-free access that makes it easy to get to the cargo area, even with your hands full, and also have available roof rails that allow for additional cargo storage. One thing worth noting is that while the Pilot’s extra length is a benefit when it comes to cargo storage, it’s a drawback when it’s time to find street parking. The Passport is worth considering if you often parallel park or have a smaller garage that will have trouble fitting the larger Pilot.
Distinct Trim Lineups
We won’t be getting into all of the nitty-gritty of the differences between the various trim levels on the Pilot and Passport (that would be its own article or two), but there are some interesting overall differences between the two lineups worth mentioning. The biggest difference is the way that the Passport has leaned into off-road offerings for the 2026 model year. While both the Pilot and Passport offer a TrailSport trim that features an off-road-tuned suspension, underbody skid plates, and other rugged features, the Pilot’s upper trims ditch the off-road assets and provide additional comfort and convenience features instead. While designing the new Passport, someone at Honda seems to have asked, “Why not both?” and replaced the Elite and Black Edition trims found on the Pilot with the TrailSport Elite and TrailSport Elite Blackout trims, which have both luxurious interiors and rugged exteriors.
On the lower end, the Pilot has more entry-level offerings, with the Sport and EX-L trims offering lower starting prices than the most affordable Passport despite the Pilot’s larger size. However, if you want to take advantage of the SUV’s towing capacity, you’ll have to upgrade to the Pilot TrailSport in order to get an integrated Class III trailer hitch. The Passport offers the RTL Towing trim one step up from the base RTL so drivers can get a hitch even if they don’t need off-road capability.
Powertrain & Towing Capacity
Both SUVs are powered by the same 3.5L V6 engine, which produces 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Paired with all-wheel drive, the models have the same EPA mileage ratings (19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway). However, while the Passport comes with standard all-wheel drive across all trims, the Pilot is available with more efficient front-wheel drive on three of its trim levels, allowing it to get 27 MPG on the highway. Since they use the same engine, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to learn that both models have the same maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. However, while the Pilot’s available front-wheel drive is a benefit in terms of fuel economy, it’s a drawback for towing since it lowers that maximum to 3,500 lbs.
Infotainment Options
The Passport was redesigned for the 2026 model year, while the Pilot’s last major overhaul was for the 2023 model year. Because of this, the Passport has a more modern infotainment setup, with larger screens and smart features like Google Built-In and Alexa Built-In. While some automakers have experimented with using these kinds of in-vehicle digital assistants to replace traditional smartphone connectivity, Honda is continuing to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside the new features (something most drivers are likely to appreciate). Wireless charging is standard across all of the Passport’s trims.
Of course, the Pilot’s 2023 refresh is far from stale. It also has wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, large infotainment screens, and even a wireless charging pad. All of these features are mostly standard across the board, though they aren’t included on the base Sport trim. However, to put this in full context, we need to remember that the base 2025 Pilot is more affordable than the base 2026 Passport. This means that the lower-tech setup is an option you can choose if you want to save some money, while the other trims have a system that’s fairly comparable to the Passport’s, albeit with slightly smaller screens. One feature you’ll find on the Pilot that isn’t available on the Passport is CabinTalk, an in-car PA system that Honda offers on three-row models so parents don’t have to scream to be heard by kids in the far back row when things get a little noisy.
High Safety Ratings
When it comes to safety, both models are pretty even. At the time of writing, the ratings aren’t yet out for the 2026 Passport, but the 2025 models of both the Pilot and Passport received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When the Pilot got its refresh for the 2023 model year, it was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the 2026 Passport also gets a bit of a boost following its refresh. Both SUVs come standard with a comprehensive lineup of driver assist tech, going beyond the basics to include features like adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a blind spot information system, and a driver attention monitor.
How to Choose a Honda SUV
Both of these models are pretty solid, so choosing between them shouldn’t be a high-pressure decision. Since they’ve both been refreshed recently, they both have modern styling and a similar lineup of tech features. Of course, if you need seating for more than five, that’s the deciding factor right there: go with the Pilot. Since it offers more affordable entry-level trims, this model is also worth opting for if you’re on a budget and don’t need all of the bells and whistles of a top-tier trim. But if you’re shopping at the higher end of the trim ladder and don’t need a third row of seating, the Passport might be the better bet, and it’s certainly the one to go with if you want both off-road capability and in-cabin luxury.
