2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander:
Which SUV Fits Your Lifestyle?

What is the main difference between the Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander?
The 2026 Honda Passport is a two-row SUV with seating for five, standard AWD, strong cargo space, and a more rugged personality. The 2026 Toyota Highlander is a three-row SUV with seating for up to seven or eight, available hybrid efficiency, and stronger passenger flexibility.

Which SUV has more seats?
The Toyota Highlander has more seating capacity. It offers three rows and seating for up to seven or eight passengers, depending on configuration. The Honda Passport has two rows and seats up to five passengers.

Which gets better MPG, the Passport or Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander has the fuel economy advantage, especially in hybrid form. The Passport counters with standard V6 power, standard AWD, and a stronger capability-focused personality.

Which has more horsepower?
The Honda Passport has more horsepower. Its 3.5L V6 makes 285 horsepower, while the gas Highlander makes 265 horsepower and the Highlander Hybrid makes 243 combined system horsepower.

Can the Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander tow?
Yes. The 2026 Honda Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The gas 2026 Toyota Highlander can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, while Highlander Hybrid models are rated up to 3,500 pounds.

Which SUV is better if I do not need a third row?
The Passport is usually the stronger fit if you do not need a third row. It gives five-passenger households a wide cargo area, standard AWD, V6 power, and a more outdoor-ready SUV character.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Price & Trim Levels

The Passport lineup starts with a higher level of standard capability because every 2026 Passport includes the V6 engine and i-VTM4® AWD. That keeps the buying decision cleaner: shoppers choose mainly by comfort, styling, towing equipment, trail-focused upgrades, and premium features.

The 2026 Highlander starts higher than it once did because Toyota removed the lower LE trim and made AWD standard across the lineup. It also gives shoppers a gas-or-hybrid decision, which can be valuable for drivers who prioritize fuel economy over maximum towing or off-road-oriented equipment.

The Passport feels more straightforward because its core hardware is consistent across the lineup. A shopper who wants the base RTL still gets the V6, AWD, strong towing capability, and a large two-row cabin. Moving up mainly adds towing equipment, TrailSport upgrades, blackout styling, or premium comfort.

The Highlander asks a different question: do you want gas power or hybrid efficiency? That gives it a real advantage for commuters who prioritize MPG, especially if regular Route 17, I-84, or Hudson Valley highway driving is part of the weekly routine.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Interior Features & Technology

Both SUVs offer modern connectivity, wireless smartphone integration, available premium audio, and comfort-focused upgrades. The difference is in how each cabin is organized. The Passport uses its two-row layout to feel open, useful, and gear-friendly. The Highlander is built around family passenger management, with three-zone climate control and available seven- or eight-passenger seating.

The Passport’s standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and Google built-in give it a strong tech baseline without needing to climb far into the trim lineup. That supports shoppers who want a modern cabin but are more interested in capability and cargo usability than third-row flexibility.

The Highlander counters with a cabin better suited to passenger management. Its second-row choices, third-row layout, three-zone climate system, and available higher-end multimedia features make sense for households that often carry more than five people.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Interior Features & Technology

Both SUVs offer modern connectivity, wireless smartphone integration, available premium audio, and comfort-focused upgrades. The difference is in how each cabin is organized. The Passport uses its two-row layout to feel open, useful, and gear-friendly. The Highlander is built around family passenger management, with three-zone climate control and available seven- or eight-passenger seating.

The Passport’s standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and Google built-in give it a strong tech baseline without needing to climb far into the trim lineup. That supports shoppers who want a modern cabin but are more interested in capability and cargo usability than third-row flexibility.

The Highlander counters with a cabin better suited to passenger management. Its second-row choices, third-row layout, three-zone climate system, and available higher-end multimedia features make sense for households that often carry more than five people.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Specs, MPG & Towing

The Passport and Highlander are both AWD midsize SUVs for 2026, but they feel different on paper and in purpose. The Passport uses one V6 powertrain across the lineup, giving every trim the same 285-horsepower foundation and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capability when properly equipped. The Highlander gives shoppers a gas turbo engine or a hybrid powertrain, which gives Toyota the clearer fuel-economy advantage, while the Passport keeps its focus on V6 power, AWD confidence, and practical capability. For more detail on the Honda side of the equation, see our 2026 Honda Passport MPG guide.

The Passport’s strength is consistency. Every trim gives you the same V6, AWD system, tow rating, drive modes, and broad capability foundation. That matters if you do not want to move deep into the lineup just to get the hardware that makes the SUV feel confident in snow, rain, gravel, or weekend gear-hauling use.

The Highlander’s advantage is efficiency choice. The gas model brings strong torque, while the hybrid trims make the biggest case for drivers who cover more highway and suburban miles than trailheads or towing scenarios. For a family that values fuel economy and three rows, the Highlander Hybrid is the more efficient fit.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Dimensions, Seating & Cargo Space

The Passport and Highlander are close enough in overall footprint to be cross-shopped, but their proportions support different roles. The Highlander is longer because it makes room for a third row. The Passport is shorter, wider, taller, and more ground-clearance focused, which supports its two-row SUV mission.

The Highlander may feel slightly easier to place in tight turns because of its turning diameter, while the Passport’s taller, wider shape gives it more of the rugged SUV presence shoppers may want for winter driving, outdoor gear, and uneven surfaces.

The Highlander deserves credit for offering the third row. That matters for families who regularly need more than five seats, even if the third row is best for occasional use, kids, or shorter trips. It also gives shoppers the option of a second-row bench or captain’s chairs, depending on trim and configuration.

The Passport answers a different need. Its second row is generous, its cargo area is easy to use, and the cabin feels designed for people and gear rather than maximum passenger count. For five-passenger households that regularly deal with winter gear, sports bags, dog crates, luggage, or outdoor equipment, that two-row focus can be more useful than a folded third row.

2026 Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Safety Features

Safety is a strong area for both SUVs. The Passport includes Honda Sensing® driver-assistive technology, while the Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+. Both systems are designed to support attentive driving with features that can help with forward collision warnings, lane support, adaptive cruise control, and other common daily-driving situations.

This section should not be forced into a winner. Both SUVs provide a strong set of driver-assistive features, and both still require attentive driving. The more meaningful difference is how those systems support each vehicle’s mission: the Passport pairs its safety technology with a rugged AWD layout, while the Highlander pairs its system with three-row family use and available premium visibility features.