Toyota 4Runner vs Honda Passport

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner shared a striking resemblance with the Tacoma pickup, especially from the front. It boasted a muscular appearance with pronounced haunches at each wheel and black wheel flares on the off-road models. The sheet metal was heavily creased and angled, with particularly deep creases along the sides. The grille sat high, resting above a lower intake with an underbite, particularly noticeable on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models, which featured unique bumpers for improved approach angles. These models also had heritage-inspired front ends with "Toyota" lettering on the grille and an integrated light bar. The rear side windows extended into the roof, reminiscent of the original 4Runner from the 1980s. Wheel sizes varied from 17 to 20 inches.

Inside, the 4Runner had a simple and utilitarian look, with chunky control dials that were easy to operate with gloved hands. The interior was adorned with an abundance of hard plastic on the dash, centre console, and door tops, with only the centre console bin cover and door armrests being soft to the touch. Cloth upholstery was standard, while synthetic leather was standard on the off-road-oriented models for easy cleaning. Leather upholstery was standard for the Limited and Platinum trims, but even with leather, the cabin never looked high-end.

The 2027 Honda Passport had a handsome upright stance with large windows, offering good visibility and a rugged vibe. It featured distinctive daytime running lights surrounding the rectangular headlights. All Canadian trims came in TrailSport configuration, including orange front recovery hooks, TrailSport badging, and all-terrain tires, adding real capability to the off-road looks. New for 2027, each trim added amber hood-scoop lights that were more cool than functional. The Passport came with quality materials, including cool textured topographical map mats next to the wireless charger and inside the passenger-side dash cubby. Easy-to-clean leatherette seating surfaces were equipped in the lower trims, while perforated leather was offered in the TrailSport Touring trims.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner in Canada offered two powertrains and two four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems. The base engine, known as i-Force, was a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder generating 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The i-Force Max hybrid added an electric motor, increasing output to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. Despite the impressive torque figure, the 4Runner hybrid wasn't particularly quick, with a mid-to-low seven-second 0 to 100 km/h time. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-matched to the engine, with more aggressive tuning and throttle response in Sport drive mode. The 4Runner hybrid was adequate for daily needs but didn't meet expectations given the torque figure. However, the torque was beneficial for off-roading, providing the 4Runner with the power to tackle hills and ruts, especially in its low-range 4Lo setting with Crawl Control engaged.

The 4Runner offered either part-time or full-time 4WD. The TRD Off-Road Premium package featured the part-time system with 4Hi and 2Hi settings, allowing drivers to choose from six Multi-Terrain System (MTS) drive modes, including Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Dirt, Auto, and Rock. These modes controlled throttle, traction control, and braking to help navigate various terrains. The more street-oriented Limited and Platinum models had a full-time 4WD system with a locking centre differential, making them easier to use. The TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter packages were serious off-roaders, but their on-road dynamics were compromised. The body-on-frame platform resulted in a jiggly ride over bumps, and the tall ride height caused notable lean in corners.

The 2027 Honda Passport was one of the few midsize two-row SUVs that came standard with a V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It felt smooth in highway acceleration and had the right amount of torque for low-speed off-road manoeuvres. This was 5 hp and 4 lb-ft of torque less than the 2026 model, but the difference was negligible. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was one of the few other vehicles in this class with a standard V6, but it felt rougher in comparison. During a two-day test, both 2026 and 2027 TrailSport models were driven on- and off-road. On-road differences were minimal, with both vehicles being quiet under hard acceleration and at highway speeds. Off-road, the 2027 TrailSport's reengineered suspension, with more than 70% of it updated, was noticeably smoother. The extra 35 millimetres of ground clearance in the 2027 model allowed for clearing more obstacles without scraping, and the TrailWatch camera system provided better all-around visibility.

While the Passport didn't have locking differentials or low-range 4WD, the Trail mode was effective in navigating tough obstacles. Steel skid plates protected the engine and fuel tank, and optional rock sliders were recommended for serious off-roaders.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner offered two seating configurations: two rows for five passengers or three rows for up to seven. The front seats were the best, though they only came with manual adjustment as standard. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, and all versions except the base and TRD Sport package had power front seat adjustments. A heated steering wheel was standard in all versions except the base model. The second row had decent space, but the seats weren't very comfortable. Headroom and legroom were good, but the seat bottoms sat too low for comfort on longer trips. The Platinum trim added heated second-row seats. The two-row 4Runner was driven, and the three-row version was suspected to have even worse thigh support. Legroom in the third row was only 808 millimetres, making it suitable for children. Cargo space was comparable to midsize rivals, but less accessible. Hybrid two-row models had 1,206 litres of space behind the second row and 2,339 litres behind the first row. The gas powertrain in the three-row configuration offered 343 litres behind the third row, 1,269 litres behind the second row, and 2,381 litres with all seats folded. The second row could fold flat or tilt up to create a flat load floor, but hybrid models lost space due to a higher load floor.

The 2027 Honda Passport was praised for its practical features, starting with usable front and rear cupholders at knee height. A cubby in the dash in front of the passenger held a cell phone or wallet. The Passport had 1,246 litres of cargo space behind the second row, with underfloor storage that could be accessorized with a cargo management system or fit a full-size spare tire. The Passport was a five-passenger vehicle, and the flat floor made the middle seat in the second row usable for adults. However, the seats were firm and uncomfortable on long trips, and the high ride height made entry challenging without a hand grip on the A-pillar for the front seats and the B-pillar for the second-row seats. The ceiling hand grip was awkward, requiring a bit of effort to enter the vehicle.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner came standard with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen. The instrument cluster expanded to 12.3 inches in all but the base model, and the touchscreen grew to 14 inches starting with the TRD Off-Road Premium package. The 14-inch screen was large and easy to use, with quick access to functions like navigation, phone, and entertainment. The 4Runner included a three-year trial of Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect, with Drive Connect available as a subscription. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided programmable information, including trip computer, media, compass, and vehicle status. Other standard tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a three-month satellite radio trial, and a wireless phone charger on all but the base model. The standard radio had eight speakers, while most packages added a 14-speaker JBL audio system with a removable portable Bluetooth speaker.

The 2027 Honda Passport offered a lot of standard tech, including a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a power liftgate with programmable height, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, four USB charging ports, tri-zone climate control, Google built-in, LED exterior lights, a front and rear camera washer, and seven drive modes. The TrailSport configuration in Canada added features like the TrailWatch camera system, ambient lighting, and heated power-folding side mirrors. The TrailSport Touring trims included a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, heated outboard rear seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a hands-free and walk-away-close liftgate. The TrailWatch cameras were used extensively during a two-day trek, providing high-definition views for wheel placement around obstacles. The cameras stayed on up to 25 km/h, while most competitors shut off at lower speeds. The multi-view cameras could also be activated via a button on the turn signal stalk.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 suite, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, road sign recognition, and high beam assist. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Despite being overhauled for 2025, the 4Runner received mixed crash scores. It earned four out of five stars overall from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four-star ratings in the frontal crash and rollover evaluations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it a Marginal score in the moderate front overlap crash test, with headlights rated Poor to Acceptable to Good depending on the package. It received Good ratings in the updated side crash test and for its vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems.

The 2027 Honda Passport came standard with Honda Sensing, which included automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, road departure mitigation, and a driver attention monitor. Other standard safety features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a rear seat reminder, and the multi-view camera system. While safety ratings for the 2027 model were not yet available, the 2026 Passport received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS with Good ratings in every test. The Passport had more standard safety tech than the Toyota 4Runner, Subaru Outback, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, and better safety ratings than the 4Runner and Grand Cherokee.