Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander

Honda Passport

$41,100.

Pictured: 2023 TrailSport AWD. MSRP starting from $43,600.

Highlander

$36,420

Pictured: Limited Turbo AWD. MSRP as tested $53,181. 

Passport

The midsized Passport, restyled in 2022, is an easy to drive SUV with a truck-like feel to it as opposed to a car-like ride with a confident ride, steering and braking along with nice acceleration. 

The two-row SUV offers a lot of utility with a huge cargo space and utility-minded rubber floor mats. Ride height and visibility are also both great.

The Passport features a lot of great safety tech and other passive safety features including advanced air bags.

Overall, if you're looking for something on the more rugged side with a well-built, roomy interior, the Passport could be a fit. However, be aware the lineup has a higher starting price point that its larger three-row sibling, the Honda Pilot. Though with it comes come standard all-wheel drive and more standard driver's assistance on the base trim.

Highlander

Toyota recently shared that the Highlander SUV is currently the No.1 selling midsize SUV in America for the 7th year running. It's easy to see why. The Highlander is a practical SUV with a nice interior and plenty of available creature comforts.

 For 2023, the Highlander ups its game with a new, more efficient gas-only engine and new upgraded tech that include two available new 12.3-inch displays. 

The Highlander is most suited for the pavement, with other Toyota models including the Sequoia more geared for off-roading.

Overall, the Highlander is a winner in the family-friendly SUV department if you don't need a huge third row that fits adults. If you do need a larger third row, check out our review of the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander.

Passport

The Honda Passport is a carryover model for 2023 following its rugged redesign in 2022.

Also in 2022, Honda also introduced the first-ever Passport TrailSport model. Honda describes TrailSport as its "halo" trim for light trucks.   

In 2022, the Passport's cabin received sporty updates and the lineup added Rear Seat Reminder and rear seatbelt reminder technology.

Highlander

For 2023, Highlander gas models are now equipped with a new, higher-torque, high-efficiency turbocharged engine. It replaces the V6.

Turbo models are equipped to tow up to 5,000-pounds.

Limited and Platinum grades now have two 12.3-inch screens as standard; one Multi-Information Display (MID) screen and one multimedia screen. The touchscreen is optional for the XLE and sporty XSE grades, which have an 8-inch screen as standard.

Limited and Platinum grades now come standard with power folding exterior mirrors.

New Cypress green exterior color.

Deciding between a new or used Highlander? We've reviewed it several times since 2019. Here's a list of every Highlander we've reviewed.

Passport

• More horsepower 
• Roomier second row 
• More cargo space
• A better off-road choice with more ground clearance and AWD TrailSport trim 

Highlander

• More torque
• More fuel efficient 
• Seats more passengers and has a roomier first row
• Better multimedia system with larger available touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Passport

• No option of 2WD
• Only available with an 8-inch multimedia screen with non-wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Lineup starts at a higher price point

Highlander

• Not geared for off-roading
• Wireless charging isn't standard across lineup
• Third-row won't fit adults

21 mpg

• Standard 8-Inch Display Audio with High-Resolution Touch-Screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, Bluetooth. SiriusXM compatibility 
• 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer, available premium 10-speaker (Elite)
• Available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic
• HondaLink® Subscription Services

• Standard 7-inch multi-information display and available 12.3-inch color LCD multi-information display
• Standard 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto with 6-speaker audio system.
• Available 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system w/ wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connect trial or subscription that offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices.
  
• Available 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio.
• Available with a backup camera with projected path or a backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• 1 yr trial subcription to Drive Connect  — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist.  Subscription required after trial.  4G network dependent.

• Available Wi-Fi® Hotspot Capability (Elite)
• 2.5-Amp USB Smartphone/Audio Interface
• 2.5-Amp USB Charging Port
• 12-Volt Power Outlets (Front, Center Console & Cargo Area)
• Available  115-Volt Power Outlet (TrailSport, Elite)
• MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack (Center Console)
• Wireless Phone Charger
• CabinControl™ Remote Compatibility

• Available wireless charging
• Five USB ports
• Two 12V outlets

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)
• Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Parking Sensors (front/rear)
• Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor
• Auto High-Beam Headlights

Also Standard:

Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines

• Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+)  — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), * Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA),  Automatic High Beams (AHB),  Lane Tracing Assist (LTA),  Road Sign Assist (RSA)  and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) 
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) 
• Rear passenger seatbelt reminder
• Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning
• Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PA w/AB)
• Available with a backup camera with projected path or a backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Available Panoramic View Monitor  

• 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions
• Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): All 2nd-Row Seating Positions
• Seat-Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions
• Rear Seat Reminder (RSR)
  
• Child-Proof Rear Door Locks
• Front Side Airbags
• Advanced Front Airbags
• Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
• Brake Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)* with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators
• Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

• 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts
• Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on middle of second- and third-row seats
• Star Safety System™—includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), * Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) * and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) *
• Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control
• Eight airbags —driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags

(FWD/AWD)

• 4,155/4,332 - L
• 4,155/4,332  - LE
• 4,199/4,376 - XLE
•  4,221/4,420 -XSE
• 4,265/4,453 - Limited
• 4,265/4,453 - Platinum