Are you an adventurous family in the market for a new three-row SUV? If you are, then put the Toyota Highlander vs Honda Passport on paper.
Both the Passport and Highlander come from reliable brands and have a lot to offer–from comfort and convenience to performance and power. Let’s take a closer look.
Space and Features
Space is undoubtedly one of your top concerns when looking at the Toyota Highlander vs Honda Passport list. The Toyota Highlander offers more headroom and legroom in the front and rear versus the Honda Passport. The third row in the Highlander is definitely roomier than in the Passport, which is more of a kids-only row. The only area where the Passport wins out on space is the cargo room behind the third row. On the other hand, if you fold the third row on the Highlander, you get a pretty generous 48.4 cubic feet of space. When it comes to standard features, the Highlander wins out with more features available at lower trim levels.
Comfort and Tech
The Toyota Highlander delivers a quiet and comfortable ride. Drivers will appreciate its good visibility, as well as blind-spot monitoring and surround-view cameras if you need them. The Passport is easier to move around in due to its wider size, but that same bulk makes it a little harder to park than the Highlander. It also has a larger turning radius, which makes it more difficult to maneuver. The Passport does feature a lot of storage compartments to help you store your gadgets out of sight. If you’re a tall driver, you’re likely to appreciate the Passport’s high front seats, but if you’re not, then they might feel rather inconvenient. Both the Passport and Highlander have great safety ratings and a large complement of active safety features.
Towing and Off-Road
Both the Highlander and Passport are powered by V6 engines, but the Highlander’s engine is slightly stronger at 295 horsepower. The torque on both engines is very similar though, so the towing ability of these two SUVs is about the same. The Passport features a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission, and the suspension is quite firm and able to absorb bumps. The Highlander features an eight-speed automatic transmission, but it’s quite responsive and quick to accelerate. However, the Highlander gets the nod versus the Passport for its optional sport-tuned suspension and well-tuned base suspension.
In terms of off-road ability, the Highlander offers eight inches of ground clearance and an optional dynamic torque-control AWD system. The Passport offers the same amount of ground clearance as the Highlander, but it has more of a bulky feel versus the Highlander in off-road situations.
If you’re looking to make a choice between these two family SUVs, it might come down to the little details. The Honda Passport has more cargo space than the Highlander. However, the Toyota Highlander offers better fuel economy than the Passport, it’s easier to maneuver, and it’s a little better off-road.
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