Off-road capable siblings
A few years back, I was lucky enough to take a Honda Pilot TrailSport overlanding, from Denver, Colorado, to Flagstaff, Arizona. I spent the four-day trip living inside the Pilot, sleeping on an air-cushion mattress, and living out of a plug-in refrigerator. I camped along the Colorado River, high up in the Grand Canyon, and did some technical off-roading in Moab, Utah. It was quite an adventure, and the Honda Pilot fared surprisingly well.
About a year later, the newest Honda Passport Trailsport came out, and it is even more off-road capable than its big brother. After driving that model off-road along some challenging trails in Moab, Utah, I came away impressed to the point of saying it was one of the most off-road capable vehicles in its class. Indeed, both vehicles feature the latest versions of Honda’s renowned i-VTM4 AWD system that can send up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels. From there, it can distribute up to 100 percent of that torque to either rear wheel. This is part of the secret sauce of what makes both vehicles so good on light to medium-challenging off-road trails.
Honda
As you will see in the next several paragraphs, both vehicles have a lot of mechanical bits in common. The Honda Passport started life as a chopped-down version of the three-row Honda Pilot, but now it’s quite different. Both vehicles hold the distinction of being the most off-road capable SUVs Honda builds, and they appear to be leading the way as more Honda models (like the updated CR-V) will be adopting the TrailSport badge soon. Now, what’s the difference between the Honda Pilot and the Honda Passport?
Honda Pilot TrailSport – the rugged family mover
Based on the newer Honda PF7 platform, which also underpins the Acura MDX and the new Honda Passport, this is a more robust foundation for the beefier Pilot to build upon. The Pilot has six trims available: the base model Sport ($40,200), E-XL ($43,500), TrailSport ($49,400), Touring ($47,500), Elite ($53,080), and the Black Edition ($54,580). All Honda Pilots come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission and FWD. The front-wheel-drive powertrain is standard on all but the TrailSport, which comes standard with all-wheel drive. Capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs, the Pilot TrailSport is EPA rated at 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. This is far lower than other Pilots, and it mainly has to do with the more aggressive off-road rubber.
Honda
The interior is easy to live with, but not as premium-feeling as others in this price bracket. The TrailSport features leather-substitute seating surfaces with extensive orange stitching throughout. It has a rugged yet comfortable feel, and it complements the macho exterior design theme well. While a 7-inch infotainment screen is standard in the Sport model, most other trims come with the 9.0-inch infotainment display. A 10.2-inch gauge cluster in Elite and Black Edition models comes standard. Honestly, for the price, the nicer gauge cluster should be in the TrailSport as well. Seating is fairly spacious throughout, and average-sized adults can use the third row (it holds up to eight) in a pinch. You get 18.6 cu-ft. of cargo space behind the third row, and 87 cu-ft. behind the second row. Maximum cargo space, with both rows folded, is 111.8 cu-ft.
I would compare the Honda Pilot TrailSport directly with the Nissan Pathfinder RockCreek over the Toyota Highlander, as their power, efficiency, and off-road swagger are easier to rationalize. Still, the Pilot TrailSport is superior to these vehicles in the rough, while the Toyota is more efficient. On the highway, the Pilot TrailSport is comfortable and somewhat serene since the Continental TerrainContact All-Terrain tires only make a bit of noise at speed, and hard cornering may produce some squealing. In exchange, it’s all-season capable, boasting impressive off-road grip that is barely intrusive in normal driving conditions. The TrailSport is also about an inch higher than the other Pilots, and with the beefier suspension and skid plates, it weighs a bit more. While the Pilot isn’t a sports car, its overall performance is excellent, especially as a commuter and family hauler.
Honda Passport TrailSport – a few inches from greatness
Honda
The mostly all-new Honda Passport TrailSport is a bit of a different animal. Honda was smart enough to make the body and interior look completely unique, as opposed to the previous Passport, which looked too much like a Pilot. While there are two actual trims of the Passport, the RTL and TrailSport, there are seven trim options. The RTL ($44,750), RTL Topwing ($45,550), and RTL Blackout ($45,950) represent the base choices. From there, you get the TrailSport ($48,450), TrailSport Blackout ($49,650), TrailSport Elite ($52,450), and the TrailSport Elite Blackout ($53,650).
Like the Pilot, the Passport uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. All Honda Passports come with AWD and the ability to tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped. The TrailSport is EPA rated at 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, while the RTL gets about 1 mpg better overall. Both the Pilot TrailSport and Passport TrailSport have the same 8.3-inch ground clearance, but the Passport has shorter front and rear overhangs. Honestly, a few more inches of ground clearance would make for an even better off-road experience.
The Passport is significantly smaller inside, with a 41.2 cu-ft cargo area behind the back seat, and a maximum of 77.7 cu-ft of cargo space, which is on par with other cavernous interiors like the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Interior appointments are even more thematic than the Pilot, with tons of rugged-looking swagger throughout. There’s also a MOLLE-panel section in the back that’s configurable, which is good for holding cargo and tools. The seating comfort is excellent, and there’s a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster along with a 12.3-inch color infotainment display.
Weighing in at 4,229 lbs, while the Pilot weighs 4,685 lbs, the Passport is noticeably lighter on its toes, and it’s sportier to drive. Oddly, it’s not any more efficient than the Pilot, despite the weight difference. Outward visibility is quite good, and the available trail camera system makes off-road visibility much better. Considering that it’s over 8 inches shorter altogether, the Passport is a snap to maneuver and park.
Kirk Bell
Final thoughts
Other than full-blown SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner, some Jeep products, and a few others, the combination of on-road competence and off-road capability of both the Passport and Pilot TrailSport is hard to beat. Sure, neither are full-blown rock-crawlers, but they are surprisingly good on rough trails. I find the Honda Passport TrailSport with the added factory-supplied rock sliders to be the best choice and the most rewarding. It has a great look, inside and out, with the chops to back up its looks. Still, if I needed to haul more than a few passengers around, that Pilot proved an excellent companion.
