Compare the2026 Honda PassportVS 2026 Toyota 4Runner

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The 4Runner’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Passport. But it costs extra on the 4Runner.

The Honda Passport TrailSport Elite’s Multi-View Camera System is available with washers for its front and rear cameras, ensuring crystal-clear visibility in any weather condition. Conversely, the Toyota 4Runner only offers a rear camera washer, which may not provide the same level of all-weather performance.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Passport uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The 4Runner uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Passport and the 4Runner have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Passport is much safer than the 4Runner:

The Honda Passport has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The 4Runner is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Passport’s reliability 19 points higher than the 4Runner.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Passport second among midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The 4Runner isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Passport’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 7 more horsepower (285 vs. 278) than the 4Runner’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Passport is faster than the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl.:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Passport higher (7 out of 10) than the Toyota 4Runner (6). This means the Passport produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 4Runner every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 4Runner.

For better stopping power the Passport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 4Runner:

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the 4Runner (265/60R18 vs. 245/70R17). The Passport TrailSport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 4Runner (275/60R18 vs. 265/55R20).

The Passport’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4Runner SR5’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Passport has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 4Runner SR5.

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The 4Runner doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Passport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Toyota 4Runner has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Passport’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the 4Runner (113.6 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 4Runner.

The Passport TrailSport handles at .80 G’s, while the 4Runner Trailhunter pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 4Runner SR5 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Passport is 3.4 inches shorter than the 4Runner, making the Passport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Passport’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The 4Runner doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Passport has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The 4Runner uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Passport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 4Runner doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Passport TrailSport is quieter than the 4Runner Trailhunter (68 vs. 70 dB).

The Passport has .8 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.9 inches more rear headroom, 6.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the 4Runner.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume than the 4Runner with its rear seat up (44 vs. 12.1 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Passport’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 4Runner doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

The Passport has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 4Runner doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Passport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The 4Runner’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Passport’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 4Runner’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Passport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 4Runner doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Passport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 4Runner offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Passport has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

The Honda Passport has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the 4Runner Premium/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the 4Runner TRD/Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter offers wireless charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance.