Honda Passport Vs. Pilot: Which Honda SUV Is Right For You?
Key Takeaways of Our Honda Pilot vs. Passport Comparison
You're in for a close race when choosing between the Honda Passport vs. Pilot here at DARCARS Honda Fairfax. The Pilot, a three-row midsize SUV, and the Passport, a two-row midsize SUV, can make every drive enjoyable – from weekend camping treks to errands with the family. Here's a quick side-by-side look at these two SUVs.
- Size: The Pilot is a three-row midsize SUV, while the Passport is a two-row midsize SUV; the Pilot is larger overall.
- Engine: Both Honda SUVs utilize a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with slightly different horsepower ratings but the same torque output.
- Drivetrain: The Pilot offers 2WD and AWD, and the Passport is standard with AWD.
- Features: These Honda sport-utes come standard with an array of comforts and conveniences, though availability can vary. This is partly due to the Pilot having six trims and the Passport three.
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 2025 Honda Passport | |
| Seating Capacity | 7 or 8 | 5 |
| Passenger Volume | 154.9 - 158.4 cu ft | 114.9 cu ft |
| Ground Clearance | 7.3 - 8.3 in | 8.1 in |
| Length | 199.9 - 200.2 in | 189.1 in |
| Width | 78.5 in | 78.6 in |
| Height | 70.9 - 72 in | 72.2 in |
| Min Cargo Capacity | 18.6 cu ft | 41.2 cu ft |
| Max Cargo Capacity | 113.7 cu ft | 100.8 cu ft |
| Max Towing Capacity |
|
5,000 lbs>1 |
| Max EPA-Est. MPG (Cty / Hwy / Comb) |
|
19 / 24 / 212 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.5 gal | 19.5 gal |
| Engine | 3.5L V-6 | 3.5L V-6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Horsepower | 285 | 280 |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
Honda Pilot vs. Honda Passport Specs
The Pilot and Passport bring power and space for all your errands and road trips. Both sport the same engine, a 3.5-liter V-6, which produces 285 horsepower in the Pilot and 280 horsepower in the Passport, with both delivering 262 pound-feet of torque. The Passport hits a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds across the lineup when properly equipped. The Pilot can also tow up to 5,000 pounds,1 but it requires AWD.
The Honda Passport vs. Pilot gas mileage comparison shows that the Pilot has slightly better efficiency with 2WD, achieving up to an EPA-estimated 19/27/22 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).2 The Passport, which comes standard with AWD, earns an EPA-estimated 19/24/21 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).2 The Pilot with AWD shares similar fuel ratings to the Passport.
The Pilot is the more spacious of the two vehicles, as expected for a three-row SUV. The Passport provides seating for five occupants, whereas the Pilot offers space for up to eight. In addition, the Honda Passport interior dimensions reveal a higher minimum cargo space at 41.2 cubic feet vs. the Pilot SUV's 18.6 cubic feet, which is due to the third row. However, the Pilot has the upper hand for maximum cargo space at 113.7 vs. 100.8 cubic feet in the Passport. While passenger volume also varies between these SUVs, the passenger dimensions are competitive.
Honda Passport vs. Pilot Trims
The 2025 Honda Pilot comes with a total of six trims to explore.
- Sport: The base trim features the comprehensive Honda Sensing suite, heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more.
- EX-L: The first trim upgrade adds leather-trimmed seats, a 9-inch color touchscreen (a 7-inch display is in the Sport trim), wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability, and wireless charging.
- TrailSport: The only seven-seat Pilot comes with all-terrain tires, TrailWatch, a one-touch power moonroof, front and rear recovery points, and underbody skid plates.
- Touring: The Touring trim takes it up a notch with its hands-free power tailgate, in-trunk seat storage, stowable second row, Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, and Bose® 12-speaker audio system.
- Elite: The Elite trim boasts rain-sensing windshield wipers, a 4-inch Head-Up Display, LED door-trim lighting, and perforated leather-trimmed seating.
- Black Edition: The top-tier Black Edition trim includes many of the same features as the Elite but with enhancements like perforated leather-trimmed seating with red stitching and 20-inch Gloss Black alloy wheels.
Meanwhile, our Honda Passport specials can cover up to three trims for 2025.
- EX-L: The standard trim is impressively equipped, including elements like Honda Sensing, a one-touch power moonroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed upholstery with front-seat heating, and an 8-inch touchscreen with seven speakers.
- Trailsport: The Trailsport adds an off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, LED fog lights, and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System.
- Black Edition: The Black Edition trim elevates the Passport SUV through a hands-free power tailgate, ventilated front seats, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and a 10-speaker audio system.
Honda Passport vs. Pilot Safety Features
Both the Passport and Pilot come standard with an impressive suite of safety technology called Honda Sensing. It comprises a Forward Collision Warning, a Blind Spot Information System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and more. Additional safety features like the Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control are standard.
The NHTSA rates both the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2025 Honda Passport five stars overall for crash safety.3 Plus, the Pilot was selected as a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS;4 the Passport has yet to be rated at the time of this writing.
What Is the Difference Between the 2024 and 2025 Honda Pilot?
The 2025 Pilot has two primary differences from the 2024 model. For starters, the base LX trim from 2024 has been removed from the lineup; it now starts with the Sport. Additionally, a new trim sits at the top, the Black Edition. This AWD-only variant comes with Gloss Black 20-inch alloy wheels, perforated leather-trimmed upholstery with red stitching, Black Edition badging, and more.
What Reddit Users Say About the Honda Pilot vs. Honda Passport
Before you check out the finance specials and lease deals at DARCARS Honda Fairfax, you can get a second opinion. Check out what owners of the Honda Pilot and Honda Passport have to say about their rugged and reliable SUVs.
“The Passport has a sportier and more aggressive character when driving, sits a little higher than the 23 Pilot, and has a slightly more rugged feel to the suspension. It’s also the more mature vehicle, based on the platform from the prior generation; the featureset is refined and most issues have been resolved. The 23 Pilot is all new, with a smoother suspension (except the Trailsport, which is similar to the Passport), larger and more spacious, but ultimately less athletic in acceleration and transmission tuning. It’s also a first model year for the new platform, so expect some idiosyncrasies and issues. If you want fancy features like wireless carplay or HUD, the 23 Pilot Elite is your only option. Otherwise, available features are relatively on par. Source: I have a 22 Passport Elite and a 23 Pilot Elite. I really like both, and I think you would be very happy with either. I highly recommend you drive both to decide which suits your driving style and which is more comfortable for you.”
By: reirone
“I think it’s how often I need a third row. Cause the answer is simple the Pilot is bigger and can fit more people with third row seating. Its more of a how often are you gonna use it. If not at all and you just need a bigger SUV than a CRV, then Passport, if you actually have a bigger growing family with 5 people and sometimes need to carry extra kids or people then Pilot.”
By: Comprehensive-Sun-84
Test-Drive the Honda Pilot or Passport at DARCARS Honda Fairfax
Explore the differences between a Honda Passport and Pilot for yourself! These well-equipped and spacious SUVs share many features and capabilities, but they also differ in various ways. Opt for the adventurous five-seater Passport or go big with the three-row Pilot for maximum versatility. The choice is yours! Feel free to contact our team today to compare Honda Pilot and Passport SUVs in further detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Honda Passport have the same engine as the Pilot?
The Honda Passport and Pilot use the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine as their standard powertrain. However, horsepower output varies slightly, with the Passport delivering 280 horsepower and the Pilot 285; they both churn out 262 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, the Pilot has a 10-speed automatic transmission and two drivetrain options: 2WD and AWD. The Passport features a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD only.
Is the Honda Pilot longer than the Passport?
The Honda Pilot measures 199.9 or 200.2 inches as a three-row midsize SUV. The Passport two-row midsize SUV is shorter, coming in at 189.1 inches. Thanks to its longer size, the Pilot seats seven or eight, and the Passport seats five. However, both offer competitive legroom measurements and fantastic cargo volume ratings. Regardless of which SUV you choose, you can expect a comfortable experience.
What is the difference between a Honda Pilot and a Passport?
The main difference between the Honda Passport vs. Pilot is seating capacity. The Pilot is a three-row SUV capable of seating seven or eight people, depending on the selected trim. The Honda Passport is a two-row SUV with a seating capacity of five in all trims. The exterior and interior dimensions also differ between these Honda sport-ute models due to their size variance. Learn more today.
Is the Pilot bigger than the Passport?
The three-row Pilot is bigger than the two-row Passport overall. Passenger volume in the Pilot is between 154.9 and 158.4 cubic feet and 114.9 cubic feet in the Passport. However, interior Passport space is still ample, providing excellent legroom and headroom, which are competitive with the Pilot. And while the Pilot is longer, it has nearly the same width and height as the Passport.
Featured Customer Review
Carl Remalia
09/28/2024
I had a great experience at DARCARS Honda of Fairfax thanks to the outstanding customer service provided by Sam. He went to extraordinary to ensure I got exactly what I needed. He understood I wanted a certain color and performed searches outside of business hours to help locate exactly what I was looking for. Sam had a great attitude and continued to stay in contact with me to ensure that were working hard to meet my requirements. Based on his great attitude and customer service I ended up purchasing the 2025 Black Edition Pilot and I am very happy with my purchase. If you want someone who is willing to work to meet your needs and has a great attitude about it please request Sam to be your salesperson. Thanks for everything and I pray you continue to have great success at DARCARS Honda of Fairfax.
Browse More Research Articles
1Towing requires accessory towing equipment. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
2Based on 2025 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, and other factors.
3Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit www.nhtsa.gov.
4Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this award, visit www.iihs.org.