2026 Honda Passport vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate, leaving our crew less than thrilled. Despite the uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its rugged design, rooted in a World War II military vehicle, and its capability to traverse almost any terrain. The interior, while not luxurious, was functional, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a few metallic accents. The Wrangler's design emphasized function over form, making it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication compared to other modern vehicles.

In contrast, the 2026 Honda Passport was hard to miss with its extra-large proportions and blocky dimensions, adhering to the modern rugged SUV aesthetic. The new model featured a flat hood and a blunt nose, with bracket-shaped amber running lights framing the upper grille. The Passport's design was inspired by a backpack, evident in its profile view with a blacked-out D-pillar and large tinted rear-quarter window. The interior was straightforward, with physical buttons and knobs, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Passport excelled in cargo space, offering best-in-class capacity and practicality, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering a marginally more fuel-efficient option with a Natural Resources Canada rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable off-road, though its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern.

The 2026 Honda Passport, equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivered 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system, with seven distinct drive modes. The Passport excelled in off-road environments, with improved approach and departure angles, skid plates, and a multi-view camera system. Despite its less efficient V6 engine, the Passport offered a Natural Resources Canada-estimated fuel economy of 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 9.9 on the highway, and 11.4 combined.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. Inside, the front seats were comfortable, and the Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was suitable for any climate. However, rear-seat legroom was limited, and storage space was minimal. The Wrangler's cargo space was reasonable, with a square-shaped 897-litre cargo hold that expanded to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded, though accessing it was cumbersome.

The 2026 Honda Passport excelled in interior space, offering best-in-class rear-seat legroom and cargo capacity. With 1,246 litres of room behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,356 litres with the seats folded, the Passport was a cargo space king. The interior featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and physical controls, providing a straightforward user experience. A panoramic moonroof and ventilated front seats added to the comfort, while numerous cubbies and cup holders catered to family road trips.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The system was easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and a remote engine starting system. Rear parking sensors were available in the optional Safety Group package.

The 2026 Honda Passport boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also standard, along with a wireless phone charger. The Passport included a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB-C charging ports, and a 10.2-inch digital driver information display. The Touring trim added a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard equipment, a significant safety upgrade. Optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while forward collision warning with automatic braking was available on higher trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, with a Good rating for side-impact protection from the IIHS.

The 2026 Honda Passport came equipped with Honda Safety Sense, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included traffic-jam assist and low-speed braking control. The Passport had eight standard airbags, though crash test results from the IIHS and NHTSA were pending for the 2026 model.