Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot: How Do They Measure Up?
Honda Pilot by Kevauto — CC-BY-SA-4.0
America loves its SUVs, and the market is filled to the brim with them. Honda SUVs are a delightful combination of style and utility, making them a popular choice for families and people with active lifestyles.
Nowadays, choosing the best family-hauling SUV can be a challenge. This is especially true if you’re a Honda enthusiast.
Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot, which comfortably-sized SUV is right for you and your family?
Today, we have the unenviable task of comparing the Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot. Let’s break down the similarities and key differences between these two standout Honda SUVs.
Exterior Features
Both the Passport and Pilot feature a bold style and adventure-ready aesthetic. Just by looking at the exterior of both SUVs, you’ll notice they look fairly similar with some slight differences. For instance, the 2021 Passport features a different exterior metal with a more sloped rear window, giving it a more rugged and sportier look than the Pilot.
The 2021 Honda Passport is outfitted with 20-inch alloy wheels on every trim, while the 2021 Pilot offers either 18-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels, depending on the model. Both the 2021 Passport and Pilot have:
- Roof rails
- LED brake lights, fog lights, and headlights
- Roofline spoiler
- Moonroof with tilt feature
- Hands-free tailgate
One key difference in the exterior is that the 2021 Passport comes standard with LED fog lights which aren’t available in the base Pilot trim. Other than that, you’ll be hard-pressed to find major differences between the Passport and Pilot as far as exterior features go.
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Performance and Fuel Economy
Whether you’re going on cross-town trips to outdoor adventures, both the 2021 Honda Pilot and Passport will give you a comfortable ride with each mile. If performance is one of your major considerations, both SUVs make it difficult due to very similar performance specs.
Both SUVs are powered by a 3.5L i-VTEC V6 w/ idle-stop engine capable of delivering an impressive 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft of torque. The V6 engine is hooked up to a smooth nine-speed automatic transmission, but it can be stingy on the downshift.
Having said that, both SUVs offer good acceleration speed at 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds. One small factor that may swing people towards the Pilot is the brakes. The Passport takes about 130 feet before stopping from 60 mph, while it only takes 116 for the Pilot. For towing capacity, both SUVs are also similar at 3,500 lbs. (FWD) and 5,000 lbs. (AWD).
Lastly, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s some slight fuel economy difference between the Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot. The Pilot offers a fuel economy of 20 city / 27 hwy MPG (FWD) and 19 city / 26 hwy MPG (AWD). On the other hand, the Passport is a tad bit worse with a fuel economy of 20 city / 25 hwy MPG (FWD) and 19 city / 24 hwy MPG (AWD).
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Interior Features and Space
Family comfort and flexibility are Honda’s core focus for both the Pilot and Passport. While both vehicles have almost the same interior amenities, the biggest difference between the two is the space and how many people they can accommodate.
The 2021 Honda Pilot features a cavernous cargo space and is probably one of the roomiest SUVs in the segment. The Pilot is available in both seven and eight-seater configurations with a 109 cu-ft. of maximum cargo space. Also, the Pilot receives high marks for being able to comfortably fit adult passengers in the third row and more legroom than the competition.
On the other hand, although the smaller Passport only seats five people comfortably, it offers a 41.2 cu-ft. of cargo volume behind the second row of seats. While that amount of cargo space is impressive, you’ll have to keep in mind that the Pilot’s third-row seats can be folded for an additional 46.8 cu-ft. of cargo space.
For interior amenities, both SUVs share the following features in select models:
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Ventilated front seats
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Interior LED ambient lighting
- Heated leather steering wheel
- Heated seats (front and 2nd rows only)
When it comes to interior comfort and amenities, it’s hard to go wrong with both the Passport or Pilot. However, if you’re looking to accommodate a bigger family and require more seating flexibility, the Pilot has the Passport beat.
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Infotainment and Safety Features
Honda certainly spared no expense when it comes to the Passport and Pilot’s infotainment systems.
The Pilot comes standard with a 5-inch LCD screen which can be upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available for the Pilot but are only standard for EX trims and above. In addition, the Wireless phone charger feature is also available at a lower price point.
Moreover, the 2021 Pilot has features that take advantage of the second and third rows. These include features like Multi-zone audio, Cabintalk PA system, and Advanced rear entertainment system. Overall, the Pilot offers a snazzier infotainment system complete with modern bells and whistles.
On the flip side, the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrations are standard for all Passport models, which is a huge advantage. Also, every Passport is equipped with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. If you’re looking for advanced features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charging, and built-in navigation, you’ll need the top Touring and Elite trims.
For safety, there’s not much to this Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot comparison because they share virtually the same safety measures. Both the Pilot and Passport come with advanced safety and driver assist features such as Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and many more.
Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot: The Verdict
The 2021 Honda Passport starts from $36,015 for the base model to $45,405 for the Elite trim. Conversely, the 2021 Honda Pilot has a starting price of $32,250 to $49,920 for the Black Edition model.
It’s not easy to settle this Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot debate since they’re almost similar in every way, including the price range. The main clincher is if you want to seat seven to eight people inside your vehicle. In which case, the Pilot gets our vote for the added utility and flexibility. For smaller families, the Passport should be more than enough and offers ample cargo space without folding the seats.
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