Honda finally built the off-road SUV it should've made years ago, boxy, capable, and $10-15k cheaper than a 4Runner while driving better on pavement. The 2026 redesign nails the look with aggressive styling and backs it up with real hardware: 8.3 inches of ground clearance, steel skid plates, and an AWD system that'll handle more trail than most owners will ever see. The naturally aspirated V6 is a proven workhorse in a segment going turbo-four. But you're paying for that capability at the pump, owners report 17-20 mpg in mixed driving, and that 19-gallon tank means gas stops every 300 miles. The 10-speed transmission is a lottery: some units shift smoothly, others buck and hunt constantly, and dealers say that's normal. If you can stomach feeding it premium and frequent fill-ups, and you value Honda's reputation over a hybrid powertrain, the Passport delivers genuine adventure capability without the 4Runner's penalty box interior or dated tech. If fuel economy matters or you want buttery-smooth power delivery, the CR-V Hybrid is sitting right there in the showroom.
Here's what you're actually buying: a truck that refuses to quit. Owners routinely push 250k-400k miles on original drivetrains, and the only thing that kills the old ones is frame rust, not mechanical failure. But the 5th gen (2010-2024) makes you pay for that immortality with 16 mpg, a ride like a lumber wagon, and an interior that feels frozen in 2005. You're spending $50k-$60k on something bulletproof but outdated, and unless you're actually using the body-on-frame toughness off-road, a Highlander does the daily-driver job better for less. The brand-new 6th gen modernizes with a turbo-4 and hybrid, but it's too green to trust, dealers are tacking $10k markups onto polarizing styling, and they killed the fold-flat rear seats. If you off-road seriously or want a vehicle that outlives your mortgage, grab a clean 4th gen V8 or late 5th gen and accept the compromises. If you're pavement-only, this is an expensive way to burn gas.