Toyota 4Runner vs Honda Passport

The 2026 Honda Passport was a striking presence on the road, characterized by its extra-large proportions and blocky dimensions that adhered to the modern rugged SUV aesthetic. Its nearly flat hood and abrupt lower bumper provided a great approach angle, while bracket-shaped amber running lights and a thin hood scoop added distinctive touches. The Passport's design was wider and visually stronger, resembling competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee, yet it maintained a unique Honda identity. The profile view, with its blacked-out D-pillar and large tinted rear-quarter window, drew inspiration from a backpack, though it also echoed designs from the Chevrolet Traverse and Land Rover Discovery. Fun features like nearly invisible rock sliders and a scratch-resistant roof panel for leaning equipment added to its appeal. The rear showcased a blocky tailgate with a two-tone design, standard roof rails, and 18-inch wheels, while the interior offered a blend of synthetic leather and cloth upholstery in the TrailSport trim, with genuine leather in the TrailSport Elite.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner shared design elements with the Tacoma pickup, making it hard to distinguish the two from the front. It boasted a muscular look with pronounced haunches and black wheel flares for off-road models. The sheet metal was deeply creased and angled, especially along the sides. The high grille and lower intake with an underbite were notable, particularly on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models, which featured heritage-inspired front ends with "Toyota" lettering and an integrated light bar. The rear side windows extended into the roof, reminiscent of the original 4Runner from the 1980s. Wheel sizes ranged from 18 to 20 inches. Inside, the 4Runner had a simple, utilitarian look with chunky control dials and an abundance of hard plastic. Cloth upholstery was standard, with synthetic leather on higher trims for easy cleaning, and leather upholstery on the Limited and Platinum trims, though the cabin never quite achieved a high-end feel.

The 2026 Honda Passport, particularly in TrailSport trims, was engineered for both on-road and off-road performance. It featured improved approach and departure angles, skid plates, and 18-inch wheels for better ride comfort and off-road traction. The TrailSport Elite trim offered a multi-view mode with four camera angles for trail navigation. The Passport came standard with Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system and seven distinct drive modes, including new Sport, Trail, and Tow modes. It lacked locking differentials and a low-range 4WD system but had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Passport retained a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, with horsepower increasing slightly to 285 hp and torque remaining at 262 pound-feet. A new 10-speed automatic transmission replaced the old 9-speed unit. The Passport excelled in off-road environments, with its V6 engine providing ample power and the steering offering a satisfying weight. The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires generated some noise on highways, but the cabin was otherwise well insulated. Despite sticking with a less-efficient V6 engine, the Passport aimed to reduce emissions, with fuel economy estimates of 19 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined in RTL trim, and slightly lower figures for TrailSport trims.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner offered two powertrains and rear-wheel drive or two four-wheel-drive systems. The base engine, called i-Force, was a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder generating 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The i-Force Max hybrid system added an electric motor, increasing output to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Our 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium tester had the hybrid powertrain, which, despite its torque, wasn’t particularly quick, with a mid-to-low seven-second 0–60 mph time. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-matched to the engine, with more aggressive tuning in Sport mode. The 4Runner hybrid was adequate for daily needs but excelled off-road, with its torque aiding in hill climbs and ruts, especially in 4Lo with Crawl Control. The 4Runner offered part-time or full-time 4WD, with the TRD Off-Road model featuring part-time 4WD and six Multi-Terrain System drive modes. Off-road features included a locking rear differential, Bilstein dampers, and skid plates. The Trailhunter and TRD Pro models offered even more off-road enhancements. However, the 4Runner’s on-road dynamics were compromised, with a body-on-frame platform causing jiggle and bounding over bumps, and handling suffering from the tall ride height and slow steering.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen but otherwise maintained a simple interface with physical buttons and knobs. It excelled in cargo space, offering 44 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 83.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it the most capacious in the midsize crossover segment. The Passport also provided best-in-class rear-seat legroom and ample storage cubbies. TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims came with a panoramic moonroof, and the TrailSport Elite added ventilated front seats. Honda offered post-production option packages, including the Adventure Package with a removable rear cargo shelf.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner could be configured with two or three rows of seats, seating up to seven. The front seats were the most comfortable, with manual adjustment standard and power adjustments on higher trims. The second row offered decent space but lacked comfort due to low seat bottoms. The Platinum trim added heated and reclining second-row seats. The three-row version was less appealing, with limited legroom and low seat bottoms. Cargo space was comparable to midsize rivals, with gas-only two-row models offering 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 90.2 cubic feet behind the first row. Hybrid models had slightly less space due to a higher load floor. The three-row configuration was only available with the base gas-only powertrain, offering 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row and 84.1 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also standard, along with a wireless phone charger. The touchscreen was easy to use, with bright colors and good navigation. Additional tech included a Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB-C charging ports, and a 10.2-inch digital driver information display. The TrailSport Elite trim added a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner came standard with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen, expanding to 12.3 inches and 14 inches, respectively, on higher trims. The 14-inch screen was large and easy to use, with quick access to functions. The 4Runner included a one-year trial of Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect, with a Wi-Fi hotspot available for a month. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster offered programmable information, controlled via a five-way controller on the steering wheel. Other tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a three-month satellite radio trial, and a wireless phone charger on higher trims. The standard radio had eight speakers, with a 14-speaker JBL audio system on models with the larger touchscreen.

The 2026 Honda Passport came equipped with Honda Safety Sense, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. The Passport had eight standard airbags. The previous-generation Passport had mixed crash test results, and the 2026 model awaited testing by the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, road-sign recognition, and high-beam assist. Blind-spot monitors, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and traffic-jam assist were also standard. The 4Runner received four out of five stars overall from the NHTSA, with mixed results from the IIHS, including a Marginal score in the moderate front overlap crash test and varying headlight ratings.