Honda Passport vs Pilot: Which Honda SUV Is Right for You?
Published October 7, 2026 · Last updated October 7, 2026
The Honda Passport vs Pilot decision comes down to one question: two rows or three? Both SUVs share Honda's 3.5-liter V6, a 10-speed automatic and a 5,000-pound maximum towing rating. The 2026 Honda Pilot is the family hauler, with seating for up to eight, a 32.5-inch third row and a lower $42,195 starting price. The 2027 Honda Passport is the five-seat adventurer: about 8.6 inches shorter, with all-wheel drive on every trim and a TrailSport that now sits 9.65 inches off the ground.
Passport or Pilot: The Short Answer
- Choose the Honda Pilot if you regularly carry more than five people: seating for seven or eight, 48.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and a front-wheel-drive Sport from $42,195.
- Choose the 2027 Honda Passport if five seats are enough: standard all-wheel drive, 5,000 pounds of towing on every trim, a body 8.6 inches shorter for city parking and a TrailSport with 9.65 inches of ground clearance for $400 less than the Pilot TrailSport.
- Bottom line for NYC: growing families and carpool drivers need the Pilot; couples, smaller families and weekend adventurers get a more capable, easier-to-park SUV in the Passport.
Model-year timing: This comparison uses the 2027 Honda Passport, now arriving at dealers, and the 2026 Honda Pilot, the current Pilot in stock. Honda had not announced a 2027 Pilot for the U.S. at the time of writing. Read more about the Honda Passport for NYC drivers and the Honda Pilot for NYC families, or see how both fit the full lineup in our Honda SUV lineup comparison: HR-V vs CR-V vs Passport vs Pilot.
Honda Passport vs Pilot at a Glance
| Spec | 2027 Honda Passport | 2026 Honda Pilot | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $45,195 (RTL, AWD). Destination $1,595 | $42,195 (Sport, FWD); $44,295 with AWD. Destination $1,495 | Pilot |
| Seating | 5 | 8; 7 on TrailSport | Pilot |
| Length | 191.5 in | 200.1 in; 200.4 in (TrailSport) | Passport (parking) |
| Wheelbase | 113.6 in; 113.8 in (TrailSport) | 113.8 in | Tie |
| Turning diameter | 39.0 ft | 37.8 ft | Pilot |
| Engine | 3.5L V6, 280 hp, 258 lb-ft; 10-speed automatic | 3.5L V6, 285 hp, 262 lb-ft; 10-speed automatic | Pilot (slightly) |
| Drivetrain | i-VTM4 all-wheel drive, standard | FWD on Sport and EX-L (AWD +$2,100); AWD standard on TrailSport and up | Passport |
| EPA mpg (city/hwy/comb) | 19/25/21; 18/22/20 (TrailSport) | FWD 19/27/22; AWD 19/25/21; 18/23/20 (TrailSport) | Pilot (FWD) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb on every trim | 5,000 lb (AWD); 3,500 lb (FWD) | Passport |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | No third row | 18.6 cu ft | Pilot |
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 44.0 cu ft | 48.5 cu ft | Pilot |
| Cargo behind 1st row | 83.8 cu ft | 87.0 cu ft | Pilot |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in; 9.65 in (TrailSport) | 7.3 in; 8.3 in (TrailSport) | Passport |
| Screens | 12.3-in touchscreen; 10.2-in digital cluster; Google built-in | 12.3-in touchscreen; 10.2-in digital cluster; Google built-in | Tie |
| IIHS award | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ (2026 model) | No 2026 award | Passport |
| Warranty | 3 yr/36,000 mi basic; 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain | 3 yr/36,000 mi basic; 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain | Tie |
Size and Dimensions: How Much Bigger Is the Pilot?
The Pilot is the bigger SUV, but not by as much as most shoppers expect. At 200.1 inches long, it is about 8.6 inches longer than the 191.5-inch Passport, and almost all of that difference is behind the rear wheels, where the Pilot fits its third row. The two ride on nearly the same 113.8-inch wheelbase, and the Passport is actually slightly wider (79.4 inches vs 78.5) and taller (73.1 inches vs 71.0).
For Brooklyn and Queens street parking, those 8.6 inches make the Passport easier to fit into a tight spot. The Pilot has one city advantage of its own: a 37.8-foot turning circle, tighter than the Passport's 39 feet, which helps on U-turns and in parking garages.
Seating: 5 Seats vs Up to 8 Seats
This is the biggest difference between the two. The Passport is a two-row SUV that seats five, with 41.1 inches of front legroom and 40.9 inches in the rear. The Pilot seats eight on the Sport, EX-L, Touring, Elite and Black Edition, and seven on the TrailSport, which uses second-row captain's chairs. Its third row offers 32.5 inches of legroom, enough for kids and shorter trips with adults.
On the EX-L and above (except the TrailSport), the Pilot's second-row middle seat can be removed and stored under the cargo floor, turning an eight-seater into a seven-seater with a walkway to the third row. Second-row legroom is nearly identical in both: 40.9 inches in the Passport and 40.8 in the Pilot. Need even more room for car seats and carpools? See our Honda Pilot vs Odyssey comparison.
Cargo Space
With every seat in use, the Pilot holds 18.6 cubic feet behind its third row, about the size of a large sedan trunk. Fold the third row and it offers 48.5 cubic feet, compared with 44.0 behind the Passport's rear seats. With the second row folded too, the Pilot reaches 87.0 cubic feet and the Passport 83.8.
So if you only need five seats, the Passport gives up just 4.5 cubic feet to the Pilot behind the second row, in a shorter body. Both have a power tailgate, and the Passport adds cargo bins with a hidden storage well.
Engine, Performance and Towing
Do the Passport and Pilot have the same engine? Essentially, yes. Both use Honda's direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic and paddle shifters. Honda rates the Pilot at 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and the 2027 Passport at 280 hp and 258 lb-ft, a difference you will not feel on the Belt Parkway.
The bigger difference is the drivetrain. Every Passport comes with Honda's torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive and Trail Torque Logic. The Pilot Sport and EX-L come with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available for $2,100, and AWD is standard from the TrailSport up.
Both tow up to 5,000 pounds, but the Passport gets that rating on every trim, and the RTL Towing and every TrailSport include a Class III hitch. A front-wheel-drive Pilot is rated for 3,500 pounds. If you want to tow a camper and bring more than five people, the all-wheel-drive Pilot is the one that does both.
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Fuel economy is nearly identical. With all-wheel drive, both are EPA-rated 19 mpg city, 25 highway and 21 combined. The front-wheel-drive Pilot is the most efficient at 19/27/22, and the off-road trims trail slightly: 18/22/20 for the Passport TrailSport and 18/23/20 for the Pilot TrailSport. Both have an 18.5-gallon tank and run on regular unleaded.
Off-Road: Passport TrailSport vs Pilot TrailSport
Both models offer a TrailSport, but for 2027 the Passport version is clearly the more capable one. Honda reengineered its suspension, raising ground clearance to 9.65 inches, 1.35 inches more than the Pilot TrailSport's 8.3. Even the base Passport RTL matches the Pilot TrailSport at 8.3 inches. The Passport TrailSport also has steeper approach and departure angles (25.4 and 25.3 degrees vs 19.9 and 19.0), all-terrain tires, skid plates, amber hood lights and, new for 2027, a standard heated steering wheel and the TrailWatch multi-camera system.
The Pilot TrailSport is the trail-ready choice for bigger families. It adds rugged-terrain tires, skid plates, a full-size spare, a trailer hitch receiver with a rear recovery point, TrailWatch and seating for seven. It costs $50,395, $400 more than the $49,995 Passport TrailSport.
Trims and Price Compared
The Pilot is cheaper to get into, but the gap narrows once you match equipment. The front-wheel-drive Pilot Sport starts at $42,195, $3,000 below the Passport RTL at $45,195. With all-wheel drive, the Pilot Sport costs $44,295, just $900 less than a Passport, which comes with leather-trimmed seats, parking sensors and a wireless phone charger as standard. The leather-trimmed Pilot EX-L with AWD costs $46,595, $1,400 more than the Passport RTL.
2027 Honda Passport trims
RTL $45,195, RTL Towing $45,895, TrailSport $49,995, TrailSport Blackout $51,495, TrailSport Elite $53,695 and TrailSport Elite Blackout $55,195, plus a $1,595 destination charge. All-wheel drive is standard. Compare the trims in detail in Honda Passport Trims Compared: RTL vs TrailSport vs TrailSport Elite, or browse new Honda inventory at Plaza Honda.
2026 Honda Pilot trims
Sport $42,195 ($44,295 AWD), EX-L $44,495 ($46,595 AWD), TrailSport $50,395, Touring $51,095, Touring Blackout $52,295, Elite $53,495 and Black Edition $54,995, plus a $1,495 destination charge. See every trim side by side in Honda Pilot Trims Compared: Sport vs EX-L vs TrailSport vs Touring vs Elite, or browse new Honda Pilot inventory.
Lease specials are updated every month, so check the current Honda lease specials (updated monthly) and Honda manufacturer incentives and rebates, and explore Honda financing. Trading in? Get a Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer on your current car before you visit.
Safety and Technology
Both SUVs come with Honda Sensing, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot information and cross-traffic monitoring. The Passport adds front and rear parking sensors and Low-Speed Braking Control on every trim; the Pilot adds them from the EX-L up. The 2026 Passport earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the institute's highest award, while the Pilot did not earn a 2026 award. IIHS had not published 2027 Passport results at the time of writing.
Inside, the two share the same core tech: a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Pilot adds family-friendly extras: CabinTalk in-car PA so the driver can talk to the third row, a three-year Google built-in data plan, and a head-up display and ventilated front seats on the Elite. The Passport TrailSport adds a panoramic moonroof and 115-volt outlets in the second row and cargo area, and the TrailSport Elite brings Bose audio and ventilated front seats.
Passport or Pilot: Which Should You Buy?
Family of five or more
Seats for seven or eight and a 32.5-inch third row make school runs and carpools easier.
Weekend trails
The TrailSport's 9.65 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires cost $400 less than the Pilot TrailSport.
Street parker
About 8.6 inches shorter, with all-wheel drive standard for snowy NYC mornings.
Lowest price of entry
The front-wheel-drive Pilot Sport starts at $42,195 and is rated 22 mpg combined.
Final Scorecard
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Pilot | $42,195 (FWD) vs $45,195 (AWD) |
| Seating and cargo | Pilot | Up to 8 seats; 48.5 vs 44.0 cu ft behind 2nd row |
| Parking size | Passport | 191.5 vs 200.1 in long |
| Standard AWD and towing | Passport | AWD and 5,000 lb on every trim |
| Off-road ability | Passport | 9.65 vs 8.3 in TrailSport ground clearance |
| Safety award | Passport | 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ |
| Fuel economy | Tie | 21 mpg combined with AWD |
| Overall for NYC drivers | Split | Pilot for bigger families; Passport for parking, trails and standard AWD |
Still deciding? If a compact SUV might be enough, read Honda Passport vs CR-V: Size, Power and Price Compared or Honda Pilot vs Honda CR-V. Cross-shopping a body-on-frame rival? See Toyota 4Runner vs Honda Passport.
Free home delivery within 25 miles. Plaza Honda delivers your new or pre-owned vehicle to your door — free within a 25-mile radius, which covers all five NYC boroughs and much of Nassau County. Farther away? Delivery is available on request.
Ask Our Team About DeliveryHonda Passport vs Pilot: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Honda Passport bigger than the Pilot?
No. The Pilot is the bigger SUV. At 200.1 inches long, it is about 8.6 inches longer than the 191.5-inch Passport, and it adds a third row for up to eight passengers. The two ride on nearly the same 113.8-inch wheelbase, and the Passport is slightly wider and taller, but it seats five and has 44.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats versus 48.5 in the Pilot with its third row folded.
Does the Honda Passport have a third row?
No. The Passport is a two-row SUV that seats five, with 40.9 inches of rear legroom and 44.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. If you need a third row, the Honda Pilot seats eight on most trims, or seven on the TrailSport with second-row captain's chairs, and its third row has 32.5 inches of legroom.
Do the Passport and Pilot have the same engine?
Essentially, yes. Both use Honda's 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Honda rates the 2026 Pilot at 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and the 2027 Passport at 280 hp and 258 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is standard on every Passport, while the Pilot Sport and EX-L come with front-wheel drive unless you add all-wheel drive.
Which is better for towing, Passport or Pilot?
Both tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Passport gets that rating on every trim, and the RTL Towing and every TrailSport include a Class III hitch. The Pilot tows 5,000 pounds with all-wheel drive and 3,500 pounds with front-wheel drive. Choose the all-wheel-drive Pilot if you need to tow and carry more than five people; choose the Passport for its shorter body and standard all-wheel drive.
What changed for the 2026 Passport vs Pilot?
The 2026 Passport was fully redesigned with a longer body and wheelbase, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in. The 2026 Pilot got a mid-cycle refresh with new front styling, a 12.3-inch touchscreen in place of the old 9-inch screen, a 10.2-inch digital cluster and a quieter cabin. For 2027, the Passport TrailSport adds a reengineered suspension with 9.65 inches of ground clearance, plus a standard TrailWatch camera system and heated steering wheel.
Which is cheaper, the Passport or the Pilot?
The Pilot starts lower. The 2026 Pilot Sport begins at $42,195 MSRP with front-wheel drive, or $44,295 with all-wheel drive, while the 2027 Passport RTL starts at $45,195 with all-wheel drive standard. The off-road trims flip the order: the Passport TrailSport costs $49,995, $400 less than the $50,395 Pilot TrailSport. Destination is $1,595 for the Passport and $1,495 for the Pilot.
Test-Drive the Passport and Pilot at Plaza Honda
Plaza Honda (2740 Nostrand Ave) keeps both SUVs in stock, so you can drive the Honda Passport and Honda Pilot back to back in one visit, with the whole family along to try the back seats. Family-owned since 1975, Plaza Auto Mall serves drivers from Queens, Staten Island and Long Island, with free delivery within 25 miles. Browse new Honda inventory, look at certified pre-owned Hondas, book service, or call Plaza Honda at (855) 528-6785.
*MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Specifications and pricing are based on manufacturer information available as of October 7, 2026 and are subject to change. Towing varies by configuration. EPA ratings are estimates; actual mileage will vary. See dealer for details.
