Compare the2022 Honda PassportVS 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Highlander Hybrid’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Passport and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Highlander Hybrid has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

The Passport’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 37 more horsepower (280 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Passport is faster than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Passport and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. The Passport has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Passport has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (19.5 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Passport stops shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the Highlander Hybrid (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (265/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The Passport TrailSport’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze’s standard 65 series tires. The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Passport has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander Hybrid.

The Passport Elite AWD handles at .79 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda Passport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The Passport is 5.8 inches shorter than the Highlander Hybrid, making the Passport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Passport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Passport has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Highlander Hybrid.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Passport’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is limited to 3500 pounds. The Passport AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Passport’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Passport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Passport’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Highlander Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Passport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Highlander Hybrid XLE/Bronze/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Passport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Passport will cost $305 less than the Highlander Hybrid over a five-year period.