2022 Honda Passport vs Pilot: Sibling Rivalry

If you’re looking for an SUV that can handle some time out on the trails, the Honda Passport could be ideal. On the other hand, if you’re after an SUV that delivers three rows of seats and room fur up to eight people, the Honda Pilot has what you want.

Which one of these impressive Honda SUVs will give you the drive that you desire?

Which Honda SUV has the Right Price?

When you shop for the SUV that you want to drive at your local Honda dealership, you’ll find both the Passport and the Pilot waiting for you. The Passport begins at $34,000, while the Pilot comes to you at a starting price of $36,830. The top of the price range reaches $45,430 for the Passport SUV, but you’ll need to spend $51,370 to reach the top model for the Pilot.

These prices are reasonable in the SUV market, giving you a competitive price that makes either of these models affordable for you to drive when you get behind the wheel.

Two SUVs that are Extremely Similar

You’ll find nearly identical qualities when you drive either of these two Honda models. Both give you generous passenger and cargo room, the Honda sensing suite of safety features, clever storage areas, impressive reliability, resale, and trim packages. These are things you want in the SUV you drive.

The Honda Passport also delivers standard AWD, which makes it much more useful when you want to have some fun out on the trails.

What do You Find in the Base Models?

Honda Passport EX-L

• LED headlights
• Push-button starting
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Tri-zone automatic climate controls
• Intelligent Traction Management
• Power liftgate
• Under-floor cargo area
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats
• Honda Sensing suite
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Forward collision warning
  • Lane-keep assist
  • Road departure mitigation
  • lane-departure warning
  • adaptive cruise control
  • Rear seat reminder

Honda PilotSport

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite radio
• Two USB ports
• 8-inch infotainment screen
• Tri-zone automatic climate controls
• Honda Sensing suite (same as Pilot)

The Pilot starts at a lower trim level but at a higher price than the Passport. Both offer similar features and qualities; it might be time to find some of the strong differences between these siblings to show you why you might want to select one other than the other when shopping for these SUVs.

How Much Cargo Room Does Honda Provide?

The Honda Passport is a 2-row/5-passenger midsize crossover SUV that gives you a generous level of interior space. The area behind the rear seats measures a little more than 50 cubic feet, which expands to more than 100 cubic feet when you fold the seats.

The Honda Pilot gives you three rows of seats and room for seven or eight people depending on how many seats you have in the second row. The Pilot is about eight inches longer than the Passport, and it gives you 16.5 cubic feet behind the rearmost row, which expands to 109.2 cubic feet when you fold the rear two rows down.

What Should be Changed About Each SUV?

The Passport is made to be an off-road SUV, and that comes through when you’re driving on the roads as well. This SUV is a bit rough to drive. The buttons to select the gears need to be changed from a push/pull button system to something a little more traditional.

Looking at the Pilot, we see an SUV that’s getting a bit old. The 2022 model year is the seventh year of the current generation, which means an upgrade is necessary. The next generation should address some of the issues we’ve had with this SUV.

What’s New for Each Honda SUV?

The Honda Passport adds a more rugged appearance and a new TrailSPort model that’s made to give you added appearance qualities you’re sure to admire. Because this SUV is only three years old, there aren’t a lot of upgrades for this vehicle yet.

We see the Honda Pilot has new items, including an updated infotainment system. You’ll see a new touchscreen, new standard connectivity, and standard LED headlights. The two lowest trims, LX and EX, are no longer part of the lineup. If you want AWD, it’s standard for the top two trims and an option for lower models.

How Much Will You Find

These two Honda SUVs share a powertrain. Both use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission for the drive. You’ll find 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque when you get behind the wheel.

The Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and it delivers 20 city/25 hwy mpg. the pilot gives you the same power and towing but increases fuel mileage on the highway to 27 mpg.

What are Some of the Favorite Qualities You’ll Find?

The Honda Passport offers the TrailSPort model, which delivers a unique, rugged styling to make it stand out in a crowd. If you’re afraid of driving a vehicle that looks like every other model on the road, the TrailSport version of the Passport will stand out and give you the look you desire.

The Honda Pilot is a family-oriented SUV, and that means you might need to talk to your family members in the rear seats. The CabinTalk feature allows you to talk to people in the rear seats through the speakers or the headphones of the rear entertainment system.

Which Honda SUV Should You Drive?

If you need to have three rows of seats because you need more than five spots for people, you have to go with the Honda Pilot. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an SUV that allows you to enjoy some adventures out on the trails, the Passport could be the right vehicle for you to drive every day.

Will you take the Honda Passport home and get ready for some fun on the trails, or will the Pilot take you to your favorite destinations with your family?