Honda Passport vs Honda Pilot
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-05 · Specs from the manufacturers and fueleconomy.gov
The short answer
Buy the Pilot for a third row: it seats 7–8, is 200.1 in long and holds up to 113.7 cu ft of cargo, from $42,395. Buy the 2027 Passport if five seats suffice: it is 8.6 in shorter, with standard AWD, 44 cu ft behind the second row and 8.3 in of ground clearance, from $45,195. Both tow 5,000 lb.
Key differences
- The Pilot starts $2,800 lower (base MSRP $45,195 vs $42,395, before destination).
- The Pilot is 8.6 in longer (191.5 vs 200.1 in).
- The Pilot seats up to 8; the Honda Passport seats up to 5.
- Max cargo: 104.6 cu ft (Honda Passport) vs 113.7 cu ft (Pilot).
- Best combined fuel-economy rating: 21 vs 22 mpg (Pilot leads).
- Most powerful version: 280 hp (Honda Passport) vs 285 hp (Pilot).
Passport vs Pilot specs side by side
| Honda Passport | Honda Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Model year compared | 2027 | 2026 |
| Base MSRP range (excl. destination) | $45,195–$55,195 | $42,395–$55,195 |
| Destination charge | $1,595 | $1,595 |
| Powertrains (hp / torque) | 3.5L V6: 280 hp / 258 lb-ft | 3.5L V6: 285 hp / 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel economy (city/hwy/combined) | 3.5L V6 AWD (RTL): 19/25/21 mpg · 3.5L V6 AWD (TrailSport): 18/22/20 mpg | 3.5L V6 2WD: 19/27/22 mpg · 3.5L V6 AWD (non-TrailSport): 19/25/21 mpg · 3.5L V6 AWD TrailSport: 18/23/20 mpg |
| Seating | 5 | 7–8 |
| Cargo behind rear row | 44 cu ft | 18.6 cu ft |
| Max cargo (seats folded) | 104.6 cu ft | 113.7 cu ft |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| AWD / 4WD | Standard | Available |
| Length | 191.5 in | 200.1 in |
| Width | 79.4 in | 78.5 in |
| Height | 73.1 in | 71 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.6 in | 113.8 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in | 7.3 in |
- Honda Passport: Two-row, 5-seat SUV; i-VTM4 AWD standard on all trims. TrailSport trims (lifted suspension for 2027): height 74.5 in, wheelbase 113.8 in, ground clearance 9.6 in vs 73.1 / 113.6 / 8.3 on RTL. Cargo per SAE J1100: 44 cu ft behind 2nd row; behind 1st row 83.8 standard / 104.6 max (TrailSport 83.2 / 104.4). Towing 5,000 lbs requires accessory towing equipment.
- Pilot: 2WD on Sport and EX-L only; i-VTM4 AWD standard on TrailSport, Touring, Elite, Black Edition. Seating 8 except TrailSport (7). Length 200.1–200.4 in (TrailSport 200.4); height 70.9–72.0 in (TrailSport 72.0); ground clearance 7.3 in (TrailSport 8.3). Cargo per SAE J1100 'Standard / Max' (Max adds floor space between rows): behind 3rd row 18.6 standard (21.8–22.4 max); behind 1st row 86.5–87.0 standard, 111.8–113.7 max (113.7 = TrailSport max; Sport max 111.8). Towing 3,500 lbs 2WD / 5,000 lbs AWD. Sport 2WD MSRP was $42,195 at launch; current Sep 9, 2026 pricing release lists $42,395.
Reliability and known issues
Honda Passport
No CarWhere reliability page yet.
More on each model
FAQ
Which is better, the Honda Passport or the Pilot?
Buy the Pilot for a third row: it seats 7–8, is 200.1 in long and holds up to 113.7 cu ft of cargo, from $42,395. Buy the 2027 Passport if five seats suffice: it is 8.6 in shorter, with standard AWD, 44 cu ft behind the second row and 8.3 in of ground clearance, from $45,195. Both tow 5,000 lb.
Is the Honda Passport cheaper than the Pilot?
The Pilot has the lower starting price: the 2027 Honda Passport starts at $45,195 and tops out at $55,195, and the 2026 Pilot starts at $42,395 and tops out at $55,195. Those are base MSRPs before destination ($1,595 and $1,595), from the manufacturers.
Is the Honda Passport bigger than the Pilot?
The Honda Passport is 191.5 in long on a 113.6-in wheelbase; the Pilot is 200.1 in on a 113.8-in wheelbase. Maximum cargo space is 104.6 vs 113.7 cu ft. Seating: 5 vs 7–8.
Which tows more, the Honda Passport or the Pilot?
Both are rated to tow up to 5,000 lb when properly equipped.
Which gets better gas mileage?
Combined ratings: 20–21 mpg for the Honda Passport and 20–22 mpg for the Pilot, depending on powertrain and drivetrain. Figures are EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov, or the manufacturer's estimate where the EPA has not yet listed the new model year (see notes under the table).
Related comparisons
Sources
- Honda News — 2027 Honda Passport Specifications & Features
- Honda News — 2027 Honda Passport Pricing and EPA Ratings (Sep 29, 2026)
- Honda News — 2026 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features
- Honda News — 2026 Honda Pilot Pricing and EPA Ratings (Sep 9, 2026)
"Not published" means the manufacturer has not released that figure for this model year; CarWhere does not estimate missing specs.
Cite this page: CarWhere Research, "Honda Passport vs Honda Pilot," carwhere.com/car-comparisons/honda-passport-vs-honda-pilot.