2026 Honda Passport vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Honda Passport presented a bold and rugged appearance, characterized by its extra-large proportions and blocky dimensions. Its design featured a nearly flat hood and an abruptly ending lower bumper, enhancing its approach angle and giving it a blunt nose. The bracket-shaped amber running lights and a standard thin hood scoop added to its distinctive look. The Passport's wider and visually stronger stance made it resemble popular competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee, while still maintaining 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 bore similarities to the pre-2024 Chevrolet Traverse and Land Rover Discovery. Notable features included nearly invisible rock sliders and a scratch-resistant roof panel for leaning equipment. The rear showcased a blocky tailgate with a two-tone design and a matching off-silver rear bumper. Inside, the Passport offered a straightforward interior with three trim levels, featuring a blend of synthetic leather and cloth upholstery in the TrailSport and genuine leather in the TrailSport Elite.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid followed a more conservative design path, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized functionality over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces were present, the controls were logically laid out with matte black surfaces and white iconography. The climate system was simple to use, featuring large temperature-adjustment knobs, though the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander's design aimed for practicality and comfort, with a focus on providing a spacious and functional interior.

The 2026 Honda Passport, particularly in TrailSport trims, aimed to excel both on and off-road. It featured improved front and rear bumpers for better approach and departure angles, along with skid plates for added protection. The switch to 18-inch wheels across all trims enhanced 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. However, it lacked locking differentials and a low-range 4WD system. The Passport retained a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Passport's V6 engine provided ample power with minimal throttle input, and its steering was commendable for its size. While the all-terrain tires generated some noise, the cabin remained well-insulated. The Passport's fuel economy was estimated at 19 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined in RTL trim, with a maximum driving range of around 450 miles.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid emphasized efficiency with its hybrid powertrain, while the Hybrid Max variant focused on performance. The Hybrid Max combined a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, producing 362 net horsepower. It offered quick acceleration and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning common in CVTs. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel efficiency for power, achieving 27 mpg compared to the Grand Highlander Hybrid's 36 mpg. It also had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route and 26 mpg on a city-highway driving route. The powertrain provided confident acceleration, and the ride quality was soft and isolating. However, the handling was secure only up to a point, with early tire scrub and squeal. The Grand Highlander offered excellent outward visibility, aided by front, rear, and top-down cameras, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, offering a modern interface with physical buttons and knobs for controls. It excelled in cargo space, providing 44 cubic feet behind the rear seat and expanding to 83.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it a class leader. The Passport also offered best-in-class rear-seat legroom and ample storage cubbies and cup holders. The TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims included a panoramic moonroof, with the latter adding ventilated front seats. Honda offered post-production option packages, such as the Adventure Package, which included a removable rear cargo shelf that could be used as a table.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. However, unlined storage locations contributed to noise and vibration levels. The Platinum-trim test vehicle featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, offering a smart and upscale look. The front and second-row seats had heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. The Grand Highlander had long rear doors, which could be challenging for buckling children into safety seats. The second-row captain's chairs with a removable center console allowed for easy access to the third row. The rearmost seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 20.6 cubic feet, expanding to 57.9 cubic feet with the third-row bench seat folded down, and reaching 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

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

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services provided features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, automatic collision notification, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum trim included a color head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Honda Passport came equipped with Honda Safety Sense, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. It also featured eight standard airbags. However, the previous-generation Passport had less-than-stellar crash test results, and the 2026 model's safety ratings were pending.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), offering a comprehensive list of standard safety features and driver-assistance technologies. It included lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). While the safety tech operated accurately, the PDA system was found to be irritating in some situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.