2026 Honda Passport vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Honda Passport presented a bold and rugged appearance, characterized by its extra-large proportions and blocky dimensions. Its design was a modern interpretation of a rugged SUV, with a long 113.6-inch wheelbase and a nearly flat hood that provided a great approach angle. The front end featured bracket-shaped amber running lights framing the upper grille and a thin hood scoop above the Honda emblem. The Passport's wider and visually stronger stance made it resemble competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee, while still maintaining a distinct 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 Chevrolet Traverse and Land Rover Discovery. Notable features included rock sliders and a scratch-resistant roof panel for equipment. The rear showcased a blocky tailgate with a two-tone design and standard roof rails and 18-inch wheels.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered a bold reinterpretation of its design, which could polarize opinions. The grille, with its flat and faceless look, spanned the entire front end and divided opinions. The Telluride's personality changed with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes at the edges. In lighter colors, they appeared jarring, while in darker shades, they blended harmoniously. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile continued the boldness with faceted fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well. The rear view adopted a different style with rounded corners and vertical taillights, resembling a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was challenging to read.

The 2026 Honda Passport, particularly in TrailSport trims, aimed to excel both on and off-road. 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 with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system and seven drive modes, including new Sport, Trail, and Tow modes. It had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Passport excelled in various environments, with the 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 well-insulated. The Passport's powertrain focused on reducing emissions, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined in RTL trim.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid version added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided comfort with its lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, though the brake pedal effort was soft. The Hybrid's power and quietness were notable, with the engine remaining quiet even under stress. The Telluride's ride comfort and sound insulation were impressive, with wind noise nearly imperceptible at highway speeds.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen but retained physical buttons and knobs for controls, emphasizing simplicity. It excelled in cargo space, offering 44 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 83.8 cubic feet with seats folded, making it a class leader. The Passport also provided best-in-class rear-seat legroom and ample storage cubbies. TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims included a panoramic moonroof, and the TrailSport Elite added ventilated front seats. The Adventure Package offered a removable rear cargo shelf that could be used as a table.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The middle-row seats offered significant travel for cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a total capacity of 89.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds (4,500 for the Hybrid). The interior featured a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and storage trays for personal items.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen 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 Passport's touchscreen was easy to use, with bright colors and intuitive 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 offered a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. It included a native navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it required firm taps and had occasional delays. The climate control screen was challenging to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in higher trims.

The 2026 Honda Passport was equipped with Honda Safety Sense, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. It featured eight standard airbags. The previous-generation Passport had mixed crash test results, and the 2026 model's safety ratings were pending.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking proximity sensors, highway driving assist, and rear passenger sensors. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues, but the highway driving assist was effective. Crash test scores were not yet available.