Surprising conclusions from review: "Rugged Face-Off: 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport Elite Vs. 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium"

[TrailDoctorr]

I was surprised at the conclusions from this side-by-side testing review, especially where he chooses the Honda over the Toyota for off-roading. Just wondering what other folks on here think? (Just FYI, I have a 2025 TRD ORP).

From Cars.com
This or That: 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Vs. 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium
https://www.cars.com/articles/this-...9b4&utm_campaign_id=15468707&utm_trusted=TRUE

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[dirtwheeler]

I have the 4Runner Off-Road Premium, and I’ve never driven the Passport. I thought the author’s conclusions contradicted the analysis a bit, though the article is mostly fair in its “depends on what you want to do” framing. What stood out to me is that the author acknowledges differences in drivetrains and body/frame design, and notes that the Passport is more likely to lift a wheel than articulate over uneven terrain, yet still says, “If [they] had to take one SUV off-roading right now, it would be the Passport.” I find that curious, because at some point you have to define off-roading, and keeping tires on uneven terrain is a pretty important part of off-roading in my opinion.

The author implies the Passport is better in stock form, while the 4Runner has more potential. That might be true if you weigh non-off-road features, including comfort. I also recognize my bias as a 4Runner owner. Even so, I question the conclusion that the Passport is better than the 4Runner for off-roading. It would be useful to see tests in practical, real-world off-road settings. Perhaps the Passport is better, but my money would be on the 4Runner.

For what it’s worth, in real-world comparisons of stock configurations for off-road capability, the one change I like to allow is tire brand/model, keeping stock sizes, to normalize traction differences that are easily changed. I realize people pay for stock tires and expect them to perform, but tires make a huge difference in overall vehicle performance, especially when they are not matched to conditions. I see a lot of tests where I basically ignore the results, because it is impossible to tell how much the outcome is driven by tire performance, which can be substantial in adverse conditions.

As far as I can tell, the author did not do meaningful side-by-side testing of these two vehicles. Both were driven, likely in different conditions, and the author inferred performance from casual drives. If that is not true, I would love to see the test plans, conditions, and results that support the claim that a stock Passport is better than a stock 4Runner off-road. Otherwise, I take the article’s off-road conclusion with caution.

 

[elecfuyu]

Review is quite spot on actually.
As much as we love our 4R, some things other brand just does better.

Light off road or FSR, the Passport may feel more comfortable than 4R.
How many of people are going to use the full potential of the 4R, honestly not much.
For the 90% of the usage, Passport may seem like a better option for people looking for comfort.

I, however, test drove the Passport. The driver seat is uncomfortable. The engine is... old V6 honda engine... and the 10 speed... if it's the same as the Acura, it's got issues... only upside I find is that it got bigger back seat space, thats all.

 

[lockwoodjd]

Yeah, but that rear design on the Honda... oiy. It's like they ran out of design budget and just slapped a minivan rear end on.

 

[Joe Dirt]

We love our 4Runners of any generation, can't say that for all the passports. I've seen far too many 4Runners that are built to the hilt and make me drool.! I have not seen that with a passport. We honor our 4Runners and are part of a exclusive heritage, Japan is also very proud of this heritage. Just my two cents.

 

[LLL1990]

I was planning on buying a 4R Limited, even had a deposit down on one, but in the end I bought a Passport Trailsport Elite. I wanted the 4R Limited because it had FT4WD and I don't have any plans on doing extreme off roading. But for 7K less than the 4R the Passport has more features, a roomier cabin and better ride quality.

Even though I own a Passport I have to disagree with the author of the article that the Passport is a better off road vehicle. It has a surprisingly good AWD system but is no match for a 4R. The increased ground clearance, locking rear diff, greater articulation and low range makes the 4R far more capable off road stock let alone modded.

But I do agree that unless you're using the full capabilities of the 4R on a regular basis the Passport is a better everyday vehicle. The first thing that hits you as soon as you open the door is how much room there is in the Passport, the cabin is huge in comparison. The ride is far more supple than it was in the 4R Limited where even with the adaptive shocks set to comfort the ride was very firm. The PP's AWD system makes it a better bad weather vehicle than 4Rs with 4WD. Not only is the AWD system always on but it can transfer power front to back and side to side with the torque vectoring rear diff and brake vectoring in the front. The ability to transfer power to the tires with the most grip makes it better than even the Limited's FT4WD. Honda also doesn't advertise it but since it's the same torque vectoring rear diff used in Acuras, it has a detuned version of Acura's super handling capabilities where it over speeds the outside rear tire to help you go around curves better.

Did I mention you don't need to pay a subscription to use the built in navigation?

 

[Chicane]

Except the Passports seats. As nice as the interior is, on my short test drive of the limited, it was hard to get the drivers seat positioned where I liked. Seat bottom seamed a little short for me. Now the passenger seat is a whole different story. I read a review on YouTube, so after my short test drive I sat in it and it made my decision easy to pass on it and get a 4R.
It’s only 4 way adjustable forward/ rear seat bottom and seat back. The seat bottom sits parallel with the floor board and offers no vertical adjustment. With this, there’s NO seat bottom support for your legs. Manual adjustments offer better comfort and more adjustments than these did. The screen placement is also bad and offers less vision between the rear view mirror and screen vs the 14” 4R screen.

 

[EL616]

I can't say I've driven a Trailsport so can't compare the ride quality or offroad capabilities, but I have to give it to Honda for the interior design, particularly in the trunk space. Lay flat backseats are a huge plus and the storage options (under floor and in the side compartments) look awesome. For all of the marketing Toyota does to position the 4Runner as the ultimate adventure/camping/overlanding SUV, the trunk design still sucks. The tumbling seats are a bummer (in both the 5th and 6th Gens) and the lack of under-floor storage and even the wheel well compartments are meh. Aftermarket options for molle panels and shelves and all that are cool, but I would kill for bigger/deeper compartments and a rear row that would flatten out.

I realize 95% of people buying any SUV are not actually hardcore overlanders, but it's weird that Honda is positioned more for the casual daily driver yet has fantastic amenities for camping and gear storage, while 4Runners are positioned for outdoorsy types yet lack in this department. Feels backwards to me.

The 4Runner undeniably looks way more sporty though -- I don't think that'll be a controversial take in this forum. The Trailsport isn't ugly per se, but still looks more like a minivan/grocery hauler than a serious off road truck.

 

[bancroftdg]

Before owning my 4R I drove a 23 Honda Ridgeline. It was totaled by a little old lady so I looked at the Passport and 6G 4R. The Honda V6 engine / transmission is as best as I can describe as boring. I visually hated the push-button transmission shifter and the "space age" instrument cluster (I prefer round dials). The Honda on a dollar for dollar basis is a better deal. But visually the Toyota is much better imho and I'm so happy I didnt just settle for the Passport (there were plenty on the lot back in May compared to 4Rs)

 

[EL616]

I visually hated the push-button transmission shifter

I almost added this to my comment above -- I hate using buttons/knobs to shift. Give me a proper shift lever, dammit. So glad Toyota kept this in the 6th Gen.

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