Honda Pilot vs Passport Comparison in Hazelwood, MO
Compare the 2026 Honda Pilot and Passport for Missouri families: seating, cargo, price, and off-road capability, with local Hazelwood, MO pricing context.
For most Missouri families, the choice comes down to one question: do you need a third row? The 2026 Honda Pilot seats seven or eight and starts at $42,395, making it the family-hauler pick. The 2026 Honda Passport seats five, starts at $44,950, and is built around rugged, AWD-focused adventure driving. Same 3.5-liter V6 and 285 horsepower under the hood — very different jobs on the road.
Both SUVs are sold and serviced locally at Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood, where actual out-the-door pricing includes a $620 documentation fee on top of MSRP. If you're weighing these two for school runs on Howdershell Road, weekend trips to the Ozarks, or towing a boat to the Lake of the Ozarks, the right pick depends more on your family shape than your budget.
How do the 2026 Pilot and Passport compare at a glance?
The 2026 Pilot is a three-row family SUV seating up to eight with 86.5 cu ft of maximum cargo space, starting at $42,395. The 2026 Passport is a two-row, five-seat SUV with 83.2 cu ft of maximum cargo, an AWD-focused lineup, and a starting MSRP of $44,950. Both use the same 285-hp 3.5L V6 and 10-speed automatic.
| Spec | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Honda Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $42,395 | $44,950 |
| Top trim MSRP | $55,195 (Black Edition) | $55,345 (TrailSport Elite Blackout) |
| Seating | 7 or 8 | 5 |
| Engine | 3.5L V6, 285 hp | 3.5L V6, 285 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Max cargo | 86.5 cu ft | 83.2 cu ft |
| Fuel economy | 19/27 city/hwy (2WD) | 21 mpg combined (RTL) |
| Towing | Up to 5,000 lb | RTL Towing trim available |
| Warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Trims | 7 | 7 |
Which Honda SUV fits a bigger Missouri family better?
If your household regularly moves more than five people, the 2026 Honda Pilot is the clear choice. It seats seven or eight versus the Passport's five, and its third row makes it workable for carpools, grandparents, and youth sports teams around Hazelwood, Florissant, and North County. The Passport simply can't match that passenger capacity in any configuration.
The Pilot's third row is the whole point. Behind it, cargo space drops to 18.6 cu ft — enough for a grocery run or a few backpacks, but not much more. Fold that row down and you unlock the full 86.5 cu ft. Families juggling car seats and booster seats will appreciate that the Pilot offers both seven- and eight-passenger layouts across its trim lineup.
How much cargo space do you really get day-to-day?
The Pilot has a higher maximum cargo figure at 86.5 cu ft, but the Passport offers more usable everyday space per passenger with 83.2 cu ft in a two-row layout. If you rarely fold the Pilot's third row, the Passport's cargo hold feels bigger every single day — no seat gymnastics required to load a bike, a dog crate, or a Costco run.
This is the tradeoff most Missouri shoppers miss. On paper the Pilot wins by three cubic feet. In practice, if you drive with the third row up most of the time, you're living with 18.6 cu ft — less than a midsize sedan's trunk. The Passport gives you the whole cargo bay all the time.
Which one handles Missouri weather and back roads better?
The 2026 Honda Passport is built around off-road capability, with most of its lineup carrying the TrailSport designation and Honda's i-VTM4 AWD system as the emphasis. The Pilot offers a single TrailSport trim as an off-road variant, but FWD is standard on lower trims. For icy Missouri winters, gravel roads, or Mark Twain National Forest weekends, the Passport lineup is engineered for it.
Missouri gets real winter — freezing rain, snow, and the occasional deep freeze that turns I-270 into a skating rink. AWD isn't a luxury here; it's a practical safety feature from December through February. The Passport builds AWD into nearly every trim. On the Pilot, you'll want to spec AWD deliberately, especially if you're commuting into St. Louis from the northern suburbs.
What about fuel economy and towing?
The 2026 Honda Passport edges the Pilot on combined fuel economy: 21 mpg combined on the RTL versus the Pilot's 19/27 city/highway (2WD). Both share the same 3.5L V6 and 10-speed automatic. On towing, Honda rates the Pilot at up to 5,000 lb. The Passport offers a dedicated RTL Towing trim, though a specific maximum figure isn't cited in current sources.
If your weekends involve pulling a bass boat to Lake St. Louis or a camper to the Ozarks, verify the Passport's exact tow rating with Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood before you buy. The Pilot's 5,000-lb rating is confirmed and covers most travel trailers, jet skis, and utility trailers Missouri families actually use.
What will a Pilot or Passport actually cost in Hazelwood, MO?
Local Hazelwood pricing at Bommarito Honda shows a 2026 Pilot Elite listed at $57,405 (MSRP $56,785 plus a $620 documentation fee) and a 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite at $55,220 (MSRP $54,600 plus the same $620 doc fee). Base MSRPs are $42,395 for the Pilot and $44,950 for the Passport — before destination, taxes, and Missouri title and registration fees.
Missouri buyers get a meaningful sales-tax benefit when trading in: state sales tax is calculated on the difference between the new vehicle's price and your trade-in value, not the full purchase price. That can save thousands on a $50,000+ SUV. Confirm your final numbers — including the St. Louis County tax rate that applies in Hazelwood — with the dealer before signing.
Which trims make the most sense for Missouri families?
For Pilot buyers, the EX-L and TrailSport trims hit the sweet spot: leather, tri-zone climate, and available AWD without pushing into $55,000 Elite territory. For Passport buyers, the RTL and TrailSport cover most family use cases, with RTL Towing worth a look if you haul regularly. Both models offer seven trims, so there's room to match your budget and features.
Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood's inventory usually includes multiple trims of both models on the ground, which matters because these two SUVs need to be driven back-to-back to really feel the difference. The Pilot rides like a family sedan with a taller seating position. The Passport feels a shade more planted and truck-like, especially in TrailSport form.
Where does Bommarito Honda fit into the decision?
Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood carries both the 2026 Pilot and 2026 Passport lineups on-site and holds a 4.8-star rating across more than 5,500 Google reviews. Buyers frequently mention a no-pressure sales process and staff who help source specific trims and colors — useful if you're targeting something like a Passport TrailSport in a particular color that isn't sitting on the lot.
One recent reviewer described the experience as "another great experience with Bommarito Honda" after their sales contact helped locate a 2026 Passport TrailSport in the exact color they wanted. That kind of vehicle sourcing matters when TrailSport allocations are tight and you don't want to settle on a second-choice spec.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 Honda Pilot or Passport better for a family of five in Missouri?
For a family of five that occasionally carries extra passengers, the 2026 Pilot's third row is worth the $2,555 price premium over the Passport. For a strict family of five that values cargo space and adventure capability over a rarely-used third row, the 2026 Passport's five-passenger layout gives you 83.2 cu ft of cargo without folding seats.
How much does a 2026 Honda Pilot cost at Bommarito Honda in Hazelwood, MO?
The 2026 Honda Pilot starts at $42,395 MSRP nationally. At Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood, a listed 2026 Pilot Elite came in at $57,405 including a $620 documentation fee on top of $56,785 MSRP. Actual transaction prices vary by trim, current Honda incentives, and any dealer discounts, so confirm out-the-door pricing directly.
Do the Honda Pilot and Passport use the same engine?
Yes. The 2026 Honda Pilot and 2026 Honda Passport share a 3.5-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Passport emphasizes Honda's i-VTM4 AWD across its lineup, while the Pilot offers FWD on lower trims with AWD available or standard on higher trims.
Which Honda SUV gets better gas mileage?
The 2026 Passport is slightly more efficient on combined fuel economy, rated at 21 mpg combined on the RTL trim and 20 mpg combined on the TrailSport. The 2026 Pilot is rated 19/27 city/highway in 2WD and 18/23 city/highway in TrailSport form. Real-world numbers vary with drivetrain, load, and Missouri driving conditions.
Can the Honda Passport tow as much as the Pilot?
Honda rates the 2026 Pilot at up to 5,000 lb of towing capacity. The 2026 Passport offers a dedicated RTL Towing trim, but a specific maximum towing figure isn't cited in current published specifications. Missouri buyers planning to tow a boat, camper, or trailer should verify the exact Passport tow rating with Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood before purchase.
Which Honda SUV is better for winter driving in Missouri?
The 2026 Passport is better set up for Missouri winters out of the box because its lineup emphasizes i-VTM4 AWD across most trims. The 2026 Pilot offers AWD as well, but it's optional on lower trims and standard only on higher ones. For icy commutes and gravel back roads, choose AWD on either model — but expect the Passport to feel more sure-footed off-pavement.
The bottom line for Missouri families
The choice is genuinely simple. Need three rows and up to eight seats? The 2026 Honda Pilot at $42,395 is your SUV. Want five seats, better AWD-standard positioning, slightly better fuel economy, and a more adventure-ready feel? The 2026 Honda Passport at $44,950 is the better fit. Same V6, same 10-speed, same warranty — different missions.
Readers in Hazelwood, MO who want to drive both back-to-back can reach Bommarito Honda Superstore Hazelwood at https://www.bommaritohonda.com to check current inventory, confirm out-the-door pricing including the $620 doc fee and Missouri taxes, and line up test drives on the specific trims you're weighing.
