Honda Passport vs Toyota bZ

The 2026 Honda Passport presented a bold and rugged appearance, characterized by its extra-large proportions and blocky dimensions. Its design was a modern interpretation of a rugged SUV, with a long 113.6-inch wheelbase and a nearly flat hood that provided a great approach angle. The Passport's front end featured bracket-shaped amber running lights framing the upper grille and a thin hood scoop above the Honda emblem. The vehicle's profile, with a blacked-out D-pillar and large tinted rear-quarter window, drew inspiration from a backpack, though it also bore resemblance to a Land Rover Discovery. The rear of the Passport showcased a blocky tailgate with a two-tone design and a darkly tinted rear window. Inside, the Passport offered a straightforward and practical interior with three trim levels, RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite, each with its own blend of synthetic leather and cloth upholstery.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, available in XLE and Limited trims, offered a more refined and modern look compared to its predecessor. The restyled bZ featured body-color trim, which improved its overall appearance. Inside, the dashboard and center console were cleaner and more organized, imparting a higher sense of quality. The XLE's fabric seats had an upscale pattern, and the center touchscreen was increased to 14 inches, integrating climate control with the display. However, the digital driver display was criticized for being mounted too far away and cramming too much information into a small space. Despite these drawbacks, the bZ provided a comfortable and relatively quiet ride, with standard front and rear parking sensors and good outward visibility.

The 2026 Honda Passport, particularly in TrailSport trims, was engineered for both on-road and off-road performance. It featured improved approach and departure angles, skid plates, and 18-inch wheels for better ride comfort and off-road traction. The Passport was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system, offering seven distinct drive modes. The Passport's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it delivered an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 25 highway, and 21 combined in RTL trim. The TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims had slightly lower fuel economy ratings. The Passport excelled in off-road environments, with its V6 engine providing ample power and the steering offering a satisfying weight at low speeds.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a single electric motor and a 57.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack, providing 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. The XLE FWD with the optional 74.7-kWh battery delivered 224 horsepower and an EPA-rated range of 314 miles. Dual-motor bZ models, available only with the larger battery, produced 338 horsepower and offered a range of up to 288 miles. The bZ's recharging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a 240-volt Level 2 home charger. In efficiency tests, the bZ performed well, averaging 4.5 miles per kWh in Eco mode. However, it lacked one-pedal driving capability, and the front-wheel-drive model experienced traction control issues during certain maneuvers. Despite these challenges, the bZ provided a comfortable ride and good visibility, though it struggled on winding roads due to its tires and steering.

The 2026 Honda Passport boasted a spacious interior with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen and physical controls for simplicity. It offered best-in-class cargo space, with 44 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 83.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Passport also provided ample rear-seat legroom and various storage options, making it ideal for family road trips. The TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims featured a panoramic moonroof and ventilated front seats, enhancing comfort.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered easy entry and exit with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, and the Limited trim added ventilated front seats. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage options, including a large bin under the center armrest and dual wireless smartphone chargers. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed good legroom, though foot space was limited. The bZ offered 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other apps. It also supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB-C charging ports, and a 10.2-inch digital driver information display. The TrailSport Elite trim included a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the driver display was criticized for its placement and information overload, the infotainment system was generally easy to use. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and various connected service plans. The Drive Connect system powered the native navigation and voice assistant, which performed well in testing.

The 2026 Honda Passport was equipped with Honda Safety Sense, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. It also featured eight standard airbags. However, the previous-generation Passport had less-than-stellar crash test results, and the 2026 model's safety ratings were pending.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs. The bZ also included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit assist, and parking sensors. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist, lane-change assist, front cross-traffic assist, and Advanced Park Assist. The bZ received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with Good ratings for front-crash avoidance but Poor ratings for headlights.