Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot: Two SUVs, One Platform, Very Different Buyers

The 2026 Honda Passport and the 2026 Honda Pilot share the same Honda light-truck platform, the same 3.5-litre V6, and the same 285 hp / 262 lb-ft output. They both come standard with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission. On paper, they look like siblings. In practice, they answer two completely different questions.

The Passport is built around five-passenger, off-road-ready capability — every 2026 Passport is a TrailSport variant. The Pilot is a three-row, family-first SUV that seats up to eight. Choosing between them is not about which is better. It is about how many seats you need and whether your weekends end at a campsite or on a backcountry trail.

At a Glance: 2026 Passport vs. 2026 Pilot

Engine and Drivetrain: Same V6, Different Tuning

Both SUVs use the 3.5-litre V6 producing 285 hp at 6,100 rpm and 262 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, paired with a 10-speed automatic and standard i-VTM4 all-wheel drive. The Passport TrailSport runs the second-generation i-VTM4 system, which can route up to 70% of engine torque to the rear axle and 100% of that torque to either the left or right rear wheel — engineered for off-road traction.

The Pilot runs the i-VTM4 AWD system that became the basis for the Passport's second-generation hardware. Both vehicles share the same 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) towing capacity, so the towing decision will not be the deciding factor here. The question is what the SUV does when it is not towing.

Seating and Cargo: Five-Passenger Adventure or Eight-Passenger Family Hauler

This is where the two SUVs diverge sharply.

The 2026 Passport: Five Seats, Maximum Cargo Flexibility

Every 2026 Passport is a five-passenger SUV. There is no third row. Honda redesigned the cabin to give all five occupants more space — second-row legroom grew by 33 mm, and cargo volume behind the front row increased by 156 L to 2,356 L. The result is an SUV that swallows skis, mountain bikes, camping gear, and weekend luggage with room to spare.

Passport cabin and cargo highlights:

• 5-passenger capacity across all four trims
• 1,246 L cargo behind the second row
• 2,356 L cargo behind the front row
• 12.3-inch centre touchscreen with Google built-in, standard
• 10.2-inch full digital driver instrumentation display, standard
• Roof rails and underbody protection, standard

The 2026 Pilot: Three Rows, Family-First Practicality

The Pilot adds a third row and bumps total seating to seven (TrailSport) or eight (Sport, EX-L, Touring, Black Edition). Cargo space scales accordingly: 635 L behind the third row on most trims, 1,702 L behind the second row, and 3,175 L behind the front row when both rows are folded down. The Pilot also adds CabinTalk, an in-car PA system that lets the driver talk to third-row passengers without raising their voice.

Pilot cabin and cargo highlights:

• 7-passenger seating in TrailSport (captain's chairs)
• 8-passenger seating in Sport, EX-L, Touring, Black Edition
• 635 L cargo behind the third row
• 1,702 L cargo behind the second row
• 3,175 L cargo behind the front row
• New 12.3-inch HD colour touchscreen (37% larger for 2026)
• New 10.2-inch digital driver display, standard

Off-Road Capability: Both Are TrailSport-Ready, Differently

The Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever built. Every 2026 Passport comes standard with off-road tuned suspension, robust steel underbody skid plates, exposed bright orange heavy-duty recovery hooks, and General Grabber all-terrain tires (275/60R18) developed exclusively for the Passport. Approach and departure angles are 23.0 and 23.1 degrees, ground clearance is 210 mm, and seven drive modes — Normal, ECON, Snow, Sport, Tow, Trail, and Sand — adapt the Passport to whatever the terrain demands.

The Pilot offers off-road capability mainly through the TrailSport trim, which adds off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, 19.8/19.0 degree approach/departure angles, and 210 mm of ground clearance. Pilot Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Black Edition trims sit at 185 mm of ground clearance with all-season tires and standard drive modes (Normal, ECON, Snow, Sport, Tow). Trail and Sand modes are available on EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Black Edition.

For drivers in Pointe-aux-Trembles and the East End of Montreal who venture out to ZEC trails, cottage roads in the Laurentians, or backcountry routes, the Passport TrailSport is the more capable off-roader by design. The Pilot is the more versatile family SUV that can handle off-road duty when it needs to.

Trim-by-Trim Breakdown

2026 Passport TrailSport

The base of the Passport lineup is also one of the most off-road-ready Hondas ever sold. Standard equipment includes off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, recovery hooks, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in.

• 285 hp / 262 lb-ft V6 with 10-speed automatic
• Off-road tuned suspension and all-terrain tires standard
• 9-speaker audio system with subwoofer
• Tri-zone climate control

2026 Passport TrailSport Touring

The top of the Passport lineup adds the TrailWatch camera system, perforated leather seating with piping, ventilated front seats, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system custom-engineered for the new interior.

• All TrailSport off-road capability
• TrailWatch four-camera off-road system
• 12-speaker Bose premium audio
• Perforated leather seating with piping

2026 Pilot TrailSport

The most capable Pilot trim seats seven, with second-row captain's chairs and standard off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and 210 mm of ground clearance. New for 2026: a 360-degree surround view camera and the trim-exclusive Ash Green Metallic paint.

• 7-passenger with captain's chairs
• Off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires
• New 360-degree surround view camera
• TrailSport-exclusive Ash Green Metallic colour

2026 Pilot Touring

The Touring adds machine-finished Shark Grey 20-inch alloy wheels, diamond-quilted Ultra-Suede seat accents, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and second-row captain's chairs are not available — the Touring keeps the eight-seat configuration.

• 8-passenger seating
• Machine-finished Shark Grey 20-inch wheels
• 12-speaker Bose audio system
• Diamond-quilted Ultra-Suede seat accents

Comparing Off-Road Hardware Side by Side

Which Honda SUV Is Right for You?

The choice usually comes down to seating count and how often you go off-pavement.

• Choose the 2026 Honda Passport if you have a five-person household or fewer, you prioritize maximum cargo flexibility and the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, and you value the rugged TrailSport identity across every trim.
• Choose the 2026 Honda Pilot if you regularly carry six or more passengers, you need a true three-row family SUV, and you want the option of TrailSport capability or the comfort of trims like Touring and Black Edition.

Both SUVs deliver the same towing capacity, the same V6 power, the same Honda Sensing safety suite, and the same Honda reliability. The Passport is the rugged five-seater. The Pilot is the family eight-seater. Pick the one that fits your weekends and your back row.

Find Your Honda SUV at Lallier Honda Pointe-aux-Trembles

Stop by Lallier Honda Pointe-aux-Trembles in Montreal to compare the 2026 Passport and 2026 Pilot in person. Our team can walk you through trim differences, demonstrate the cargo configurations, and book a back-to-back test drive so you can feel the difference between five-passenger off-road capability and three-row family practicality. Reach out today to reserve your appointment.