2024 Honda Passport vs. 2024 Honda Pilot Specs
Comparison of 2024 Honda Passport and 2024 Honda Pilot Specs
1. Introduction
Today, for various reasons, demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is increasing. This can be seen from the number of SUVs on the road today. For the 2024 Honda itself has two SUVs, the Honda Passport and the Honda Pilot. To reduce buyer confusion between the two, we made a 2024 Honda Passport and 2024 Honda Pilot comparison. The aim is to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each and what are the differences between the two. This comparison is very useful especially for those of you who are still confused about choosing between a Passport or a 2024 Honda Pilot. Honda itself launched the 2024 Honda Passport as a 4-door mid-size SUV. It is a two-row version of the third-generation Pilot currently on sale. As a 2024-year model, the Passport has more off-road capabilities and comes with a better-designed exterior and interior. This Honda Passport is positioned between the CR-V and the Honda Pilot. The Passport comes in 4 variants, namely Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. In this comparison, we will compare the above specifications starting from the base variant. For your information, Honda has stopped production of the Honda Pilot that comes with 4WD. Presenting power through a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 Earth Dreams engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2024 Pilot is available in various variants, including LX AWD, EX, EX-L, SE, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. Since we've seen that some of the facelift versions have facelift in 2023, let's take a comparison starting from the 2023 version.
1.1 Overview of 2024 Honda Passport
Finally, the rugged new look of the 2024 Passport is completed with an off-road package option available on all trims, which includes newly designed roof rails and crossbars, a more robust off-road wheel and tire package, and fender flares which create a more rugged off-road capable look. Off-road package equipped trims also feature exclusive new colors for body panels and wheels. A new Honda Performance Development (HPD) package is also available to add more aggressive-looking front and rear bumper chrome garnishes.
The 2024 Passport is built for adventure and discovery, so improved all-weather capability is a key feature improvement this year. All trims receive an upgraded i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system, which more seamlessly and continuously adjusts torque distribution front to rear for improved on-road fuel efficiency and all-weather traction while still providing robust off-road capability. Specifically, all AWD trims have improved snow and mud-mode torque distribution performance, as well as hill descent control optimization, which are important off-road performance features. In addition, the top trim Platinum Elite AWD is equipped with a new variable mode drive system, which has normal, snow, mud, and sand modes, to further tune torque distribution for specific surface traction conditions.
Exclusively made for on-road use, the 2024 Honda Passport offers a sporty on-road oriented styling direction for Honda SUVs compared to its more now off-road capable Honda Crossover and Honda Pilot siblings. The 2024 Passport features fully modernized styling at the front and rear, completely updating light and wheel designs, as well as delivering a more upscale and sportier looking interior in the new top-spec Platinum Elite trim. For improved visibility and nighttime illumination, all trims receive new LED headlamps and dual "Eyebrow" style daytime running light configuration. At the rear, all trims receive a new design for the LED tail lamps. All trims also receive turn signals and position lamps that use LED technology. Finally, there are new wheel designs on all trims, which complete a more modern and rugged new look for the 2024 Passport.
The 2024 Honda Passport is the next stage of our highly successful mid-size crossover SUV, which includes new styling enhancements, upgraded capability features, and powerful in-vehicle technology that deliver more enjoyment and convenience than ever before. The adaptable and rugged Honda Passport combines on-road driving refinement with its off-road capability while delivering best-in-class interior space.
1.2 Overview of 2024 Honda Pilot
Pilot is generally a well-packaged and thought-out car. From the engineering and design viewpoints, on the large and positive side of the scorecard, the Pilot offers excellent space efficiency. It boasts very good third-row room and couples this with at or near the top of its class cargo carrying capacity. Simultaneously, it's easy to drive and live with day to day, and it does all of the above while still retaining a nice comfortable ride. This last part is actually quite rare at this point as most competing large SUVs use truck-like body-on-frame construction that exacts a stiff ride penalty. Honda offers a single engine and transmission combination for the 2024 Pilot, and it's essentially the same as is found in the latest model year of the previous generation Pilot. It's not for ill, it might be said that Honda hasn't been known for daring powertrain selections as this Pilot spec is quite unconventional for a new mainstream vehicle. The 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine is well known in Honda circles for its robustness and durability. This engine is mated to a 9-speed fully automatic transmission which replaced the problematic ZF 9-speed that was installed for the initial few model years of the generation. All proprietary Honda transmissions found in US market vehicles have historically been highly reliable units, and it can be said with a great deal of confidence that such a tradition will be continuing here. The Pilot is available with either front or all-wheel drivetrain, which is considerably simplified from the initially confusing matrix of all-wheel drive versions with traction management system options that it was first offered with. Most Honda vehicle reviews naturally make distinct mention of driving dynamics, and doing such is difficult with the 2024 Pilot. This may be the first time in its history that a Honda SUV is not actually based on a Honda vehicle. The 2024 Pilot is a badge-engineered Isuzu clone of the Axiom and therefore shares platform lineage with the first generation Honda Odyssey and the 2nd & 3rd generation Acura MDX. The Axiom was a bit of an oddball vehicle that never saw great sales success and was only offered with an all-wheel drivetrain; it was among the last body-on-frame SUVs sold in North America. That being said, the Axiom and its platform are generally regarded for their solidity and reliability, and naturally a unibody construction vehicle will inherently provide better ride and handling than a body-on-frame vehicle. So, although it may not have any recognizably Honda-like characteristics, the Pilot should still offer a nice combination of ride comfort and secure handling.
2. Exterior Features
First thing that you notice about a car is its exterior, it is what others see as the car passes them and it is what the owner sees every day when going to their car. This why the exterior of the car is so important in the car market today. First, the Passport comes from the factory with 245/50R-20 sized tires, compared to the Pilot's 245/60R-18. What does this mean? The tire size in the Passport makes for a lower, wider stance than the Pilot. Given the Pilot is about 1 inch taller and longer, the Passport has an edge in terms of proportions. While both cars share the same wheelbase and track width, the Passport's styling has more of a crossover look, and the Pilot has more of a utility truck look. Moving around to the back of the car, both cars come with LED brake lights, and the Passport has the option of a hands-free power tailgate which the Pilot does not have an option of. Coming standard on both cars are halogen headlights and fog lights, with options of getting LED headlights on upper trim levels. Where the Pilot's lighting is something that is universal, the Passport offers a more rugged A-Spec trim level that features a more complex headlight design. While subjective, the A-Spec package gives an option for those who want a sportier look on their SUV. The last styling feature to look at is the option of a moonroof, the Passport just like the Pilot comes with the option of a standard moonroof, but it is only the Passport that has the option of a tilted up ventilated moonroof which allows for even more fresh air to come in without all the moonroof wind noise on those highway trips.
2.1 Design and Styling
Design and Styling The 2024 Honda Passport is rough and tough on the outside but has a cozy interior. The unibody structure makes it comfortable to drive but also rugged enough to take on rough terrain. The 2024 Honda Pilot has a more conventional look and the body is made of a more solid frame. While the passport is designed to handle rough terrain, it only has an all-wheel drive option. This may be a deciding factor for people who spend a lot of time driving in winter conditions. Both vehicles would be able to handle rough terrain and come out unscathed, but the passport has the edge in terms of off-road capability. Both vehicles are also equipped with Honda Sensing Technologies. These technologies include Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keep Assist. The higher trim levels have blind spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert. These technologies are excellent for safety, and the various enhancements on upper trims on both vehicles may be an influence for consumers to lean more towards the high-end models. A final note on styling and design is that 2024 will be the last production year/body style for the Honda Pilot before a full model change next year. This may influence people who want the tried and true older model that has already worked out all the quirks and gremlins in a vehicle's production lifetime.
Exterior Features
2.2 Dimensions and Body Structure
As the Passport is derived from the Pilot, Honda has designed both to have a similar structure where they are both unibody construction. This type of construction is intended to enhance ride and handling, comfort, and fuel efficiency as well as optimizing the capabilities of the advanced i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system that is offered in both vehicles. With the measurements and structure being almost identical, this will essentially give both vehicles similar on and off-road performance. The slight size advantage the Pilot has will affect its handling and fuel efficiency of the Passport (as the Passport is smaller and a bit lighter) but not significantly. Both are intended to be capable off-road and on.
The first thing that is apparent when you compare the Passport and the Pilot is that the Passport is a bit smaller. The Passport measures 6.5 inches shorter in length, 0.4 inches wider, and 0.4 inches lower than the Pilot. For a more visual comparison, the Passport is close to the size of the old Pilot, and the new Pilot is similar in size to the current generation of the Acura MDX.
Background information: The dimensions of a vehicle and the way it is structured can say a lot about what it is and what it's intended to be used for. In this next section of the article, we will be discussing the dimensions and body structure of each of SUVs in detail.
2.3 Lighting and Visibility
2.3 Lighting and Visibility One area where the Pilot and Passport see a divergence is in the area of lighting and visibility. The Pilot benefits from full LED headlights for both low and high beam with an Auto-On/Off feature. The Passport will not have available LED lights on any of its trim levels. Both vehicles have automatic high beams on all trims. This feature has the headlights come on whenever there are 2 or fewer oncoming vehicles and/or a vehicle in front of you. If there are no vehicles detected, the high beams will automatically engage and will disengage when detected. An updated feature for the Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline is the availability of the Honda Genuine Accessory - Power LED Fog lights. This upgrade will allow you to swap the standard fog lights for more powerful, longer-lasting fog lights that will be sure to cut through any fog, snow, rain, or dust. The Pilot and Passport both come with LED Daytime Running Lights. For the Pilot, should the DRLs be turned off and the headlight switch be put in the on position, the DRLs will automatically turn on. This is not a feature that is able to be turned off or on. The Passport, however, will have a DRL off/on button. With the position of the button on either off or maybe even forgetfulness, this can cause the driver to forget to have the DRLs on when driving during the day. The Accord - Insight would also have a similar DRL off/on button. High and low beam integrated LED headlights are another standard feature on the 2021 Accord Touring 2.0 that are not available on the Pilot. Heated front wiper zone has also come to be an available feature on many Honda models, yet is not available on the Pilot and Passport. This would be a selling point for this vehicle in particular in the Canadian market. Both vehicles have LED brake lights and an Auto high beam feature. The Pilot has a slight edge with the availability of rain-sensing windshield wipers. This feature will automatically turn on the wipers and at the detection of a lesser amount of rain, will use a slower speed. As the rain increases, the wipers will operate at a faster speed. Any intermittent wiper speed setting will only operate during detection of rain. The moment the windshield becomes dry, the wipers will automatically turn off. This feature will undoubtedly save time and effort for the driver and is a welcomed feature for any vehicle. This feature was a standard feature on the 2018 Ridgeline Touring and other competitor vehicles for sedan, hatchback, crossover, and minivan such as the 2018 Subaru Outback, Touring and Elite trim for the Nissan Murano, and the Toyota Sienna XLE and Limited trim. Both vehicles have the rear window intermittent wiper and washer. The Passport has a heated windshield wiper zone with a heated wiper zone indicator that the Pilot does not have. Both vehicles have a one-touch power moonroof with a tilt feature, but the Pilot has the added option of a power moonroof with a power tilt feature standard on the Touring and Elite trims.
From: "Comparison of 2024 Honda Passport and 2024 Honda Pilot Specs"
3. Interior Features and Comfort
The Passport and Pilot both have spacious cabins with room for up to eight passengers. But a family of four might appreciate the slightly smaller size of the Passport, which is lighter and easier for kids to climb into. The Passport has only two rows of seats, versus the Pilot's three, meaning it only seats five. In any case, the Pilot provides more flexibility for carrying a mix of passengers and cargo. Its second row is adjustable, with a choice of a three-person bench or two captain's chairs. And the third row is easily accessible thanks to large rear doors and a handy one-touch walk-in feature for the second row. Each of these Honda crossovers provides pleasant accommodations and a thoughtful interior design, but newer isn't always better. The Pilot has a more conventional interior layout, but some will prefer the Passport's somewhat simpler interface. Both vehicles offer comfortable seating, impressive passenger space, good visibility, and a built-in sunshade. The Pilot is host to a main console screen, a second screen for the climate controls, and a fully digital gauge cluster. The Passport has similar tech features, but it still retains traditional climate control knobs and a more basic gauge cluster. Storage space is solid for both vehicles with plenty of clever cubbies and charging options. The Passport has an edge with its more updated USB ports and wireless phone charging.
3.1 Seating Capacity and Configuration
The new 2024 Honda Passport does not offer a third-row seating capacity and comes with 5 general-use seats. However, the 2024 Honda Pilot allows for either 7 or 8 passengers, depending on which seating configuration is chosen. The Pilot comes standard with a 7 or 8-passenger configuration on all versions except the Elite, which comes with second-row captain's chairs and seating for 7. This provides more options for the customers, depending on how many people they may need to transport as well as the passengers' entry to the third row with multifunctional second-row seats. Both vehicles' seating configurations allow for rear seat access using one-touch levers to tilt and slide the seat forward, as well as an available button to be pressed by the second-row passengers to move the seat forward for easier access to the third row. The captain's chairs option on the Pilot creates an open pathway to the third row and also provides a walkway between the 2 second-row seats to the third row. This option also comes with side armrests and a walkway to the third row, with a one-button mechanism that can be used to slide and tilt the seat for easier third-row entry.
3.2 Cabin Space and Cargo Capacity
Honda does not lack when it comes to room in the cabin space and cargo area. The 2024 Passport and Pilot come with spacious room for passengers to sit comfortably and ample cargo room to store all their gear. Passport and Pilot have similar dimensions in width and height. Pilot is 6.5 inches longer to add 3rd row seating while Passport substitutes increased length with ground clearance and approach/departure angles for better off-road capabilities. Pilots have 7-8 seat configuration while the Passport max seating capacity is only 5. These numbers may indicate that Pilot is better for transporting more passengers, but the lack of a 3rd row in Passport allows for more individual space between each passenger. Trunk space behind 3rd row Pilots will have little space left over for whatever gear must be hauled, and passengers will need to utilize 3rd row split folding for additional cargo room. This means if all 3rd row passengers are not present, they will be left to fold down the seats to stow gear and sacrifice passenger space in doing so. With the rear seats folded flat, the 2-row Pilot and Passport both have an impressive flat-floored cargo area to haul larger gear. Passports will have 2.5 additional cubic feet of space compared to Pilots due to not having a 3rd row. This will usually allow any gear that fits in Passport to have a little extra buffer space, and less gear tetris. Both the 2-row Pilot and Passport are excellent choices for adventurers who demand ample cargo space and gear organization.
3.3 Technology and Infotainment
The last feature in terms of technology and infotainment is an AT&T data plan. All trims come with a 90-day/3GB trial. Since it is only available in the US, data service is only available in the continental US and Canada. This allows for various in-vehicle data usage such as audio streaming, satellite-linked navigation, Wi-Fi software updates, and more. Passport and Pilot owners will be able to purchase data packages. There are options for a 1.5 GB package per month and a 3 GB package per month, all the way up to multiple data packages for multiple vehicles. Follow this link for more information on the data plan for the Passport and Pilot. Data package purchases are non-refundable/non-recurring and cannot be transferred to another vehicle.
The Passport and Pilot offer 3 free months of the remote security system and a one-year free subscription of the security and remote packages, both of which require a paid subscription. These packages allow users to lock/unlock their vehicle, use the remote start feature, and locate their vehicle. These services are exclusive to the Touring and Elite trims and require a subscription.
Both the Passport and Pilot have mobile hotspot capability, which supports up to seven devices. Subscription is required after a three-month trial. Elite trims add wireless phone charging, and this is the only trim in which it is available. Touring and Elite trims exclusively have HondaLink subscription services; mobile hotspot subscription is required. This offers services such as emergency access, automatic collision notification, enhanced roadside assistance, and navigation. The Passport and Pilot are compatible with the HondaLink Remote System, which requires a subscription and can be activated either via the smartphone app or by holding the panic button on the key fob for five seconds.
Voice command technology is available and capable of understanding multiple languages, dialects, and accents. It can control various functions in the Passport and Pilot, including HVAC settings, navigation system, audio system, and available SMS function. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard on all trims of both vehicles. For audio, Sport trims have a 215-watt 7-speaker system. EX-L trims add an 8-inch Display Audio with high-resolution electrostatic touch-screen and customizable feature settings. Touring and Elite trims have a 10-speaker setup with 540 watts, including a subwoofer.
4. Performance and Engine Specifications
The Passport will have just one engine and transmission choice. All models will come with the same powertrain, a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Pilot offers the same engine on the lower trim levels, Sport and EX, but gets an optional detuned version on the higher trims, Touring and Elite. The detuned engine makes 5 less horsepower and 6 lb-ft of torque less than the standard engine. On the AWD Elite trim, the Pilot comes with the same torque-vectoring AWD system that comes standard on all Passports. All 2WD Pilots come equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, while AWD models will come with a 6-speed or the more advanced 9-speed automatic. The Passport, much like the Pilot's 2WD trims, is equipped with a 9-speed automatic on both 2WD and AWD models. Both the 9 and 6-speed automatics have had issues since their induction in 2015, but the 6-speed has shown to be the more reliable of the two, as well as having a lower cost in maintenance and repair. The 9-speeds have seen a lot of improvements over the last few years to combat the numerous issues that many early adopters faced, but the verdict is still not out on the long-term reliability of the 9-speed.
4.1 Engine Options and Power Output
The choices of engines for the Passport and Pilot are identical. There is a 3.5L V6 with cylinder deactivation which makes 280HP and 262lb/ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic and can be configured for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The start/stop system for the engine is configurable for driver preference. The intelligent traction management system has normal, snow, mud, and sand modes which can be used to adjust the drive-by-wire throttle map and transmission to optimize driving in poor conditions. The system is equivalent to the AWD systems found in the CRV and Ridgeline but does not have the same level of off-road capability as the Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) all-wheel drive system available in the Pilot, which has torque vectoring capabilities to actively send torque to individual wheels based on conditions. The Pilot has the option of this same V6 engine or a hybrid system which uses a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine mated to two electric motors which provide power through an electronically controlled 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces a combined total of 212HP and 232lb/ft of torque in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. The hybrid system uses the Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) all-wheel drive system and electronic servo-controlled brake system which is a function of the electric power steering system. The V6 model can tow 3,500lbs, and the all-wheel drive V6 model or any version of the Passport can tow 5,000lbs. The hybrid system is capable of towing 1,500lbs. The current Passport finally has a newer generational engine compared to the Pilot, so whether or not this will change with time is yet to be seen.
4.2 Transmission and Drivetrain
A low-tech driver can simply know that the higher the number of gears, the better the fuel economy, and the Passport takes the win here with 20/25/22 (city/highway/combined) for the two-wheel drive models, as compared to 19/27/22 for the two-wheel drive Pilot. A more educated person can understand that there is more to fuel economy than just the transmission, and the weight and aerodynamics of the vehicle also play a very large role. Since the Passport is essentially a Pilot with about 6 less inches of overall length and wheelbase, it is a few hundred pounds lighter than the Pilot and produces a superior coefficient of drag due to the more upright and vertical shape of an SUV as compared to a crossover. This is possibly why the 9-speed automatic was never adapted into the Pilot, as this extra weight and air resistance means the fuel economy gains from the 9-speed transmission would be marginal.
The transmission and drivetrain of a vehicle are responsible for transferring power from the engine to the wheels. Most Honda models, including the Passport and Pilot, are offered in both 2-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Passport and Pilot are no different. Both use a transmission with an actual shifter, as opposed to some newer vehicles which are using a shift-by-wire system. The Passport uses a 9-speed automatic, while the Pilot uses a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission depending on the trim level. A higher number of gears allows for more efficient fuel consumption and smoother power delivery, as the engine can operate at a more narrow RPM range for a variety of vehicle and road speeds. A higher number of gears does not necessarily mean a better transmission, however, as the actual design of the gears, clutches, torque converter, etc. are all very important to how the transmission will actually operate. Since both transmissions have been on the market for a few years now, we will assume they are both reliable with proper maintenance. However, the 9-speed found in the Passport has a history of some reliability and software engagement problems.
4.3 Fuel Efficiency and Towing Capacity
The Passport offers an estimated fuel efficiency of 10.9L/100km city and 8.7L/100km highway for all-wheel-drive models, and 12.5L/100km city and 10.6L/100km highway for two-wheel-drive models. Unlike the Pilot with its Variable Cylinder Management system, which can effectively turn the engine into a fuel-sipping four-cylinder unit when V-6 power is not needed, the Passport's i-VTEC V-6 runs on all cylinders at all times offering the full 280 horsepower at all times. In terms of towing capacity, the Pilot and Passport are surprisingly close with the Passport offering 1588 kg (2WD), 2041 kg (AWD), and the Pilot offering 1588 kg on 2WD models and 2041-2268 kg on AWD models. It may be expected that the larger, heavier Pilot would have a higher towing capacity, however that is not the case due to the Passport's more rigid body structure, more responsive steering and superior rear suspension design.