Choose the 2026 Honda Pilot if you need a third row; choose the 2026 Honda Passport if 5 seats are enough and you prefer a shorter SUV. Both are gasoline Honda family SUVs, but the Pilot vs Passport decision comes down more to seating than to engines.
The Pilot has room for more passengers, while the Passport keeps passengers and cargo in a 2-row layout.
| Decision | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 8 seats; 7 in TrailSport | 5 seats |
| Body and cargo layout | Longer body; more standard cargo space behind the second row with the third row folded | Shorter, wider body; cargo area directly behind its rear seats |
| Best fit | You need additional passenger positions and want a third row available | You need 5 seats and prefer the shorter body or Passport TrailSport’s off-road hardware |
Request a Pilot or Passport test drive, subject to current model and trim availability.
The Pilot is longer, but the Passport is wider and taller.
| Measurement | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 200.1 inches* | 191.5 inches |
| Width | 78.5 inches | 79.4 inches |
| Height | 71.0 inches* | 73.1 inches |
| Standard cargo behind third row | 18.6 cubic feet | - |
| Standard cargo behind second row | 48.5 cubic feet with third row folded | 44 cubic feet |
| Standard cargo behind first row | 87.0 cubic feet* | 83.8 cubic feet* |
Trim exceptions: Pilot TrailSport is 200.4 inches long and 72.0 inches high; Pilot EX-L is 70.9 inches high. Behind-first-row standard cargo is 86.5 cubic feet in Pilot Elite and Black Edition, and 83.2 in Passport TrailSport Elite and TrailSport Elite Blackout.
With the Pilot’s third row occupied, cargo sits behind that row. Folding it expands the cargo area while keeping the second row available for passengers. The Passport keeps its cargo area behind all 5 seats.
Pilot EX-L, Touring, Elite and Black Edition have a removable second-row middle seat. Removing it reduces passenger capacity. Pilot TrailSport instead has second-row captain’s chairs.
Both SUVs have matching engine output and automatic transmissions. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is available only on Pilot Sport and EX-L, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard on every Passport. Mileage figures below are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) city/highway/combined estimates.
| Specification or configuration | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 | 3.5-liter V6 |
| Horsepower / torque | 285 hp / 262 lb-ft | 285 hp / 262 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive choices | Sport and EX-L: FWD or AWD; TrailSport, Touring, Elite and Black Edition: AWD | AWD on every trim |
| Non-TrailSport AWD EPA mpg | 19/25/21 | 19/25/21 on RTL, RTL Towing and RTL Blackout |
| TrailSport AWD EPA mpg | 18/23/20 | 18/23/20 on all TrailSport versions |
| FWD EPA mpg | 19/27/22 on Sport and EX-L | - |
| Maximum AWD towing | 5,000 pounds with required accessory towing equipment | 5,000 pounds with required hitch and harness |
| Maximum FWD towing | 3,500 pounds on Sport and EX-L with required accessory towing equipment | - |
Neither model has an AWD towing-capacity advantage. The Passport does have a higher maximum than a FWD Pilot.
Pilot TrailSport includes a hitch receiver, but the connector and ball must be added. Passport RTL Towing and all Passport TrailSport versions include a Class III hitch, harness and hitch panel.
The Pilot has the lower entry price at launch, including when both entry models have AWD.
| Trim comparison | 2026 Honda Pilot MSRP at Launch | 2026 Honda Passport MSRP at Launch |
|---|---|---|
| FWD entry | Sport FWD: $42,395 | - |
| AWD entry | Sport AWD: $44,495 | RTL AWD: $44,950 |
| TrailSport entry | TrailSport AWD: $50,595 | TrailSport AWD: $48,650 |
| Upper end of launch price range | Black Edition AWD: $55,195 | TrailSport Elite Blackout AWD: $53,850 |
These MSRP at Launch figures exclude destination, the delivery charge Honda adds.
Passport RTL AWD costs $455 more at launch than Pilot Sport AWD, although their standard equipment differs.
Passport TrailSport starts at a lower launch price.
Passport TrailSport adds off-road-tuned suspension and all-terrain tires over the Passport RTL grades. That tire change does not increase ground clearance.
Tires: The 2026 Pilot TrailSport has 265/60R18 Rugged Terrain all-season tires; the 2026 Passport TrailSport has 275/60R18 all-terrain tires.
Underbody and recovery hardware: The 2026 Pilot TrailSport has underbody skid plates, a front recovery point and a rear recovery point at the hitch receiver. The 2026 Passport TrailSport has an underbody skid plate and recovery hooks.
Pilot TrailSport has more ground clearance than other Pilot trims, while every Passport has the same clearance.
| Equipment | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance, unladen | 8.3 inches on TrailSport; 7.3 on other trims | 8.3 inches on every trim |
| First trim with TrailWatch, a trail camera system | TrailSport AWD | TrailSport Elite AWD |
Passport TrailSport Elite’s MSRP at Launch is $52,650. Its launch price is $2,055 above Pilot TrailSport.
Both TrailSport models include a panoramic roof.
The 2026 Pilot and Passport have matching main screen sizes and wireless smartphone connections. Passport includes a wireless phone charger at entry level; Pilot requires a higher trim.
| Feature | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Touchscreen / digital instrument cluster | 12.3-inch / 10.2-inch, all trims | 12.3-inch / 10.2-inch, all trims |
| Smartphone connections | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all trims | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all trims |
| Google built-in | All trims; app data included for 3 years | All trims; app data included for 3 years |
| Qi wireless phone charger | EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite and Black Edition | All trims |
| Bose premium audio | 12 speakers on Touring, Elite and Black Edition | 12 speakers on TrailSport Elite and TrailSport Elite Blackout |
The 2026 Pilot and Passport both include Honda Sensing and blind-spot assistance across their trim ranges. Parking equipment differs by trim.
| Feature | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Low Speed Braking Control and 8 parking sensors | EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite and Black Edition | All trims |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2026 Pilot’s FWD and AWD configurations and the 2026 Passport AWD matching ratings.
| NHTSA rating | 2026 Pilot FWD, 2026 Pilot AWD and 2026 Passport AWD |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5 stars |
| Overall frontal | 4 stars |
| Overall side | 5 stars |
| Rollover | 4 stars |
Ratings change as new tests are published; check NHTSA.gov for the latest.
New 2026 Pilot and Passport models share these Honda limited warranty terms, with time-and-mileage limits ending at whichever comes first.
| Limited warranty | New 2026 Honda Pilot | New 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| 5-Year Unlimited-Miles Corrosion Limited Warranty | Included | Included |
For your Central Indiana SUV search, compare both Hondas with us at Ed Martin Honda on Indianapolis’ east side.
Use our Honda Pilot listings and our Honda Passport listings to compare actual vehicle prices and listed equipment. You can also view our current Honda specials and review financing options with us.
Get directions to our North Shadeland showroom when you are ready to visit. Ask us about driving both models; model and trim availability must be confirmed, so be sure to contact us first to see what we have on the lot today.
The Pilot is longer: 200.1 inches, or 200.4 inches for TrailSport, versus 191.5 inches for Passport. The Passport is wider and taller. The Pilot also has a third row.
No. The 2026 Passport has 2 rows and 5 seats. The Pilot has 3 rows and seats 8, except for the 7-seat TrailSport.
Choose Pilot when you need more than 5 seating positions. Consider Passport when 5 seats meet your needs and you prefer its shorter body or TrailSport hardware.
Pilot Sport AWD starts at $44,495 at launch, compared with $44,950 for Passport RTL AWD, a $455 difference. Pilot Sport FWD has a lower MSRP at Launch of $42,395. All figures exclude destination.
Their AWD maximums tie at 5,000 pounds with the required equipment. Pilot FWD has a 3,500-pound maximum. Pilot requires accessory towing equipment; Passport requires the appropriate hitch and harness.
With its third row folded and second row up, Pilot has 48.5 cubic feet of standard cargo space. Passport has 44 cubic feet behind its second row.
Comparable AWD configurations have matching EPA estimates: 19/25/21 city/highway/combined mpg for non-TrailSport Pilot AWD models and Passport RTL versions, and 18/23/20 for their TrailSport versions. Pilot Sport and EX-L FWD have EPA estimates of 19/27/22 mpg.
No. Pilot TrailSport includes TrailWatch. Passport TrailSport and TrailSport Blackout do not; Passport adds it on TrailSport Elite and TrailSport Elite Blackout.
NHTSA gives the 2026 Pilot in either drivetrain configuration and the 2026 Passport AWD 5 stars overall, 4 stars for overall frontal crashes, 5 stars for overall side crashes and 4 stars for rollover. Check NHTSA.gov and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for current ratings.
You can request a comparison drive, subject to current Pilot and Passport availability. Confirm the models and trims before your visit.
